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 28
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GRASSHOPPER YEAR.
That great plague of the farmer, the grasshopper, is found in sufficient numbers nearly every year, but the year 1826 has ever since been known as the "grasshopper year." The season was an extremely dry one, and everything green was literally " burned up." The hay crop was diminished one half throughout the town. Apples and small fruits dropped from the trees, and the bushes were dried and life- less. The grasshoppers overran everything. At times great clouds of them appeared, almost darkening the sun at noon- day. They devoured everything they came in contact with. They were caught in nets, and gathered by the bushel and
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fed to the swine, and their career was only checked by the great rain which occurred in August, so familiarly known as the "August freshet."
FIRST WAGON.
Dea. Daniel Rice owned the first wagon used in this town. This was in 1805. This wagon was made in Alstead, this state, and was brought to this town by Capt. Benj. Gould, of whom Dea. Rice purchased it. The body sat directly upon the axles, and was covered with cloth, the sides rolling up to make it pleasant in clear weather, and buttoned down to make it comfortable in rainy weather. This wagon was used by Mr. Rice for many years.
FIRST CHAISE.
The first wheeled vehicle that made its appearance in this town, being owned here, was a chaise owned by Ed- ward Whitman, Jr. This was in 1795. Previous to this time the travelling had been done on foot or on horseback. Judge Robert Wallace soon appeared, with a coach drawn by two horses. This carriage proved to be very convenient, for in it the judge's large family were conveyed to and from church, and it was often used upon other occasions. Chaises became quite common, and at one time almost every well- to-do farmer had his chaise. One is now rarely seen.
GREAT EXHIBITION.
Upon the evening of April 7, 1820, the young people at the centre of the town engaged in an exhibition in the old town-house. A very large stage was erected upon the top of the pews each side of the pulpit, and in the front, for the actors and the musicians. The old house was completely filled by the people of this and the neighboring towns. John Connor furnished the music, which was vocal and instru- mental. One of the pieces performed was a most comical
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RECEIPTS.
one, entitled " Old Hunks." The audience were highly de- lighted with the entertainment, and it passed into history as the "Great Exhibition."
1820.
This year was famous for the low prices of farmers' pro- duce. The best of pork sold for five cents per pound. Rye was sold for seventy-five cents, corn for fifty cents per bush- el. Beef was sold for from two to five cents per pound. Money was very scarce. The season was a dry one, there be- ing no rain from the last of May until the middle of August following. The cattle in the pastures suffered severely for both food and water, and, as a consequence, came to the barn in the fall in a poor condition, and one month earlier than was the usual time.
RECEIPTS.
We print the following, as showing the manner in which receipts were given in old times. The constable performed the duties of a collector, and paid out the town's money as ordered by the selectmen.
Feby 18th 1774. this Day Received of Ezekiel Smith, Con- stable, 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.
Hennikir, Oct. 26th 1774. Then received of Aaron Adams twelve shillings lawful money for my wifes teaching school. I say received by me.
Otis Howe.
Henniker, December 10th 1774. This day received of the selectmen, one pound, one shilling of the Towns money which is in full for seven weeks schooling done by my sister. I say received by me.
Thomas Johnson.
Feby 13th 1775. Received of the Selectmen of this town, three shillings, which I paid to James Scales for swearing town officers in the year 1772.
Aaron Adams.
25
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HISTORY OF HENNIKER.
Mr. Scales will be remembered as the builder of the first cabin in this town, and in 1772 was residing in Hopkinton, where the town officers, or a portion of them, went to be sworn.
THE FIRST STAGE.
The first stage that passed through this town upon a reg- ular trip was in the spring of 1824. It came from Concord, passed through to Hillsborough, thence up to Charlestown. It was a two-seated covered carriage, drawn by two horses. The driver was a Mr. Hubbard, who was also part owner.
A stage commenced about the same time to run from Boston to Nashua (then Dunstable), thence to Amherst, Henniker, Claremont, and Windsor, Vt. This was a tri-weekly stage, going to Nashua one day and returning the next, bringing the mail three times a week upon that route. This stage will be remembered as leaving here upon the arrival of the stage above, which trip was largely per- formed in the night, and returning here the next night.
This line was owned by several gentlemen upon the route from Windsor to Boston. The coaches used were soon large covered ones, from the manufactory of Messrs. Down- ing & Abbot, of Concord, these coaches being some of the first they built. There were three seats inside, com- fortably upholstered. The outside contained the driver's seat, wide enough for himself and two passengers, and a seat behind his for passengers. The top of the coach was very firm, and surrounded with a low iron railing, inside of which smaller pieces of baggage were carried. A rack behind held the larger trunks. Fourteen passengers could be ac- commodated at one time quite comfortably.
These coaches made their trips as punctually as the cars do now, and at a certain time of the day might be looked for with equal confidence. An immense number of people were transported in these coaches, and also upon those running through this town from Concord to Keene, during
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GREAT TEAMS.
all hours of the day and night upon their long trips, and yet an accident seldom occurred. The proprietors and their drivers were careful, faithful men, obliging and attentive to the wants of their customers. Among these owners and drivers were Hammond Train, Silas Dutton, Chester Averill, and others.
These coaches continued to perform their daily duties until the cars came to town in 1850. George Warde was for many years the faithful driver of the stage running to Keene from Concord. He is still remembered by many for his gentlemanly bearing and obliging disposition, as well as for his carefulness. Robert Moore was the last driver upon this route, leaving his passengers at the depot at Contoocookville until the cars reached here.
GREAT TEAMS.
Along with the stage coach came the great teams, to which were attached four, six, and often eight horses, bear- ing their ponderous loads. The opening of the road from this town to Bradford secured to the upper country a direct line of communication with Boston. Hardly a day passed for a quarter of a century after this road was built but what from one to a dozen of these teams passed through, freight- ed with the produce and manufactures of the country above, or with the goods from the city going back in exchange for the load down. These teams usually made twenty-five miles a day, resting at noon for dinner.
During the winter season immense numbers of "pungs," or two-horse sleighs, passed through here. They were owned by the farmers of the country above, in which they carried their pork, butter, cheese, and other surplus pro- ducts of the farm to market, carrying back with them gro- ceries and dry goods for the consumption of the family during the coming year. Lively times were those in the " Old National," when the stable was filled, and the adjoin- ing ones also ; when fifty of these pungs were packed in
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HISTORY OF HENNIKER.
the yard, in addition to a number of larger teams. Many a hard drive was made during the day, that they might enjoy the hospitalities of this hotel upon those cold winter nights.
ANECDOTE.
Master Jacob Gibson taught school a great many terms in this town, several of which were in the school-house upon the common, the south side of the river. The district at that time included the territory embraced in Nos. 8, II, and part of Nos. 5, 7, and 12. Among the wide-awake boys that attended one winter was Phinehas, son of Elijah Pressey, who was always known by the cognomen of " Fin Pressey." One day the class in grammar were defining words, when Master Gibson said,-" Nancy Darling, can you tell me what finis means ?" As she rose from her seat she espied " Fin" immediately behind her, and she promptly answered, " Yes, sir." " What is it?" "Fin Pressey !" and down she sat, amid the laughter of all the scholars and the teacher.
COLD FRIDAY, 1810.
The cold Friday of January 19, 1810, was one of the cold- est days that has been experienced in this town since its settlement. The wind blew, fearfully, and the cold was in- tense. Few persons ventured out of doors. People froze their hands, ears, and feet as if by magic. There was no snow upon the ground, neither had there been any to speak of all winter thus far. James Bartlett was the teach- er of the school upon the common that winter. It was a practice of his, as an encouragement to the scholars, to give medals to the ones who were at the heads of their classes the most times, and who were the most punctual in attend- ance. On this day Rebecca Ramsdell, then a pupil of his, won the medal, and retained it during the term, and still has it in her possession. She faced the terrible wind and
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HORSEBACK RIDING.
cold of that fearful morning one mile rather than miss her school : a most worthy example for the children of these modern times.
FEARLESS HORSEBACK RIDING.
Many of the women and young ladies of the olden time were as excellent riders upon the horse as were the men, whether old or young. Mrs. David Campbell was one of the most noted. She was called to the south part of the town one spring day, in the early settlement of the town, to visit a sick friend. She passed down through the woods, where now stands the village, thence across the bridge which had been built across the river here at the centre of the town. The river was high, and rising still higher with the rapidly melting snow. She returned in the night. It was very dark, but, trusting her faithful horse, she feared no danger. She reached home safely, much to the surprise of her hus- band and family, and was asked how she crossed the river. "Upon the bridge, of course," said she. But such was not the fact, for the planking of the bridge had been washed away, and she crossed upon one of the stringers. She said she noticed her horse stopped when he came to the bridge, and stepped very carefully as he crossed, but she supposed she was on the bridge.
Her daughter Hannah, who afterwards became the wife of Dea. George Connor, became as expert a horseback rider as was her mother. When some ten or twelve years of age she was sent by her mother upon an errand over to James Hemphill's, who lived where Charles Nichols now resides. Taking a little child in her arms, she mounted her horse, went over and did her errand, and was about returning home, when Mr. Hemphill rode up and challenged her for a race. She immediately accepted the same, although assured by Mrs. Hemphill that if she was going to race she must leave the little child with her. This was objected to by the rider, and together the racers started. The bridge was soon
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HISTORY OF HENNIKER.
reached, and crossed in a twinkling. Near the north end of the bridge was a low place in the ground, across which her horse leaped with such a bound, that the girth of the saddle gave way, and the saddle lay upon the ground. Hannah, however, clung to her horse, and reached her home in safe- ty. Mr. Hemphill was left far behind, and gave up the race, exclaiming, " I sweer, I am beat!"
CHAPTER XX.
ANECDOTES - SERENADING - DANIEL B. ALLEY- BEAR STORIES - HUSKING-BEES-LOG ROLLINGS-TRAINING OF TROOPERS-SPINNING-BEES-FIRST CHECK-LIST- MANUFACTURE OF WOODEN WARE-PUPPET SHOW- FIRST ELEPHANT -SHOOTING STARS-ANNAS CAMP- BELL'S WILL-MARRIAGE ANNOUNCEMENT-POULTRY- ANTI-SLAVERY-TITHING-MEN-AMMI BROCK.
T HE following anecdote is related of Stephen Adams, who resided in the north-east part of the town where the Patterson brothers now reside, and who was the first settler upon that farm. He was a very large, corpulent man, and did but little work the latter part of his life. He was exceedingly irritable in his disposition, and withal very stubborn. One morning, on his way to mill with his horse, which always accompanied him upon his travels, he stopped at the blacksmith shop of Thomas Brown to chat a little with some people who were there in waiting for some work to be done, when Jonathan Sawyer, one of the number, said to him as he rode up,-"Good morning, Mr. Adams ; how do you do these days ?" "Not very well," replied Mr. Adams ; " I am pretty slim ; I sha'n't live a great while."
" Well," said Mr. Sawyer, "if its the Lord's will that you should die before long, I am sure I have no objections."
Mr. Adams found his equal, however, in the disposition not to yield, in Thomas Brown, the blacksmith. One warm summer's night, near the close of the last century, Mr. Adams was on his way home from mill, with two large bags
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HISTORY OF HENNIKER.
of meal upon his horse's back, and with himself perched upon the bags, making a very heavy load. As he neared Mr. Brown's house, he found him seated upon the top rail of a pair of bars. Mr. Adams halted, and they entered into a friendly conversation upon the topics of the times. One matter after another was rapidly discussed. The hours of the night passed away, and still they talked, neither being disposed to yield to the other ; and it was not until daylight appeared in the east that Mr. Adams, concluding " discre- tion to be the better part of valor," bade Mr. Brown good morning, and proceeded to his home, leaving Mr. Brown still sitting upon the bars, consoling himself with the happy thought that the horse upon which he had sat all night was not as tired as was the faithful old beast that had been so misused by Mr. Adams.
The stores in the olden days were the scene of much hilarity, as they were visited by many of the old settlers, who often remained from one to three nights at a time from their families. Much liquor was drank, many stories told, and many free fights indulged in during these "sprees." Upon one occasion, in Judge Darling's store, after a long "session," old Lt. John Tucker, being a very fleshy man, and then pretty thoroughly filled with liquor, rose from his chair and attempted to walk ; but his head was too weak for his body, and down he sat, a little sooner than he antici- pated. Old Lt. John Smith, likewise a very corpulent man, and an old friend of Mr. Tucker's, then tried his hand at walking. He was able to stand, but locomotion was not to be performed by him ; but managing to stand a moment or two, he involuntarily found himself in the chair again, and in his broad Scotch accent said, "Dom it, John, you're drunker nor I am!" " Ah, weel, John," said Mr. Tucker, " I believe I am, for I canna stand !"
Lt. Smith hauled at one time a very large amount of logs into the yard of the saw-mill belonging to Oliver Ed- wards. He leased the mill for the purpose of sawing them
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A STERN OLD PATRIOT.
into lumber, and engaged Jonathan Sawyer to assist him, they both being experienced men in a saw-mill. They commenced their task on Monday morning, worked hard all day long, and, as neither said anything about ceasing from their labor, when night came on, they furnished them- selves with torches and worked all night, and continued doing so, neither one being willing to yield to the other, until during the night of Thursday following, when Mr. Sawyer, being completely tired out, sat down upon a log and dropped asleep. He immediately awoke again, and fear- ing that he might get asleep upon the log that was being sawed, and thereby receive an injury from the saw, deter- mined to put an end to their stubbornness and folly. Find- ing Mr. Smith as exhausted and sleepy as himself, he watched his opportunity, and catching up a slab, threw it down endwise into the "flutter wheel," almost completely destroying the same, and causing the stopping of the saw. Both men then lay down in the mill, and had out their sleep, which was a very long one. It was a long while afterwards before Mr. Smith found out what stopped the saw from running that night.
One day during the war of 1812, as Thomas Wallace and his wife were passing through the town on their way up to his father's, Judge Robert Wallace's, in the south-west part of the town, and as they reached the residence of Ephraim Morrill, they met him in his dooryard, halted, and com- menced conversing with him upon the prevailing topic of the times-the war. Mr. Morrill, who was a stern old patriot, and a great lover of his country, became somewhat excited as the conversation proceeded, and finally exclaimed, "Why, sir, the Britishers are coming right on to us, e'ena- most ; there was a terrible cannonizing down to Concord all day yesterday, sir." The good old man had heard some artillery practise in that direction the day previous, and he thought most surely that the enemy were coming upon this town.
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HISTORY OF HENNIKER.
His wife was as earnest in her conversation as was her husband, and as often made ludicrous mistakes. She was very much exercised, after their new house was built, be- cause the sun persisted in shining into the front entry of the house when the door was opened. She often remarked that "it was a great pity the house had not been set back a few feet farther, so that the sun couldn't shine into the entry."
Mr. Morrill was a very firm Baptist by profession, and he often used to say, in his later years, that "if he lived and had his health, he meant to die in Henniker and be buried in a Baptist burying-ground."
SERENADING.
Among the bitter personal enemies that the Rev. Mr. Rice had in this town was George Connor, familiarly known for so many years as "Deacon Connor." When he was married he took his bride and went up past Mr. Rice's to David Clough's, who lived on the top of Federal hill, and, as the deacon used to say, "they got 'squired together." Mr. Rice, thinking to have a little fun with him, paraded his sons by the side of the road near his house, and when Mr. Connor and his wife came past them the tin horns " tooted," and the cops and pins rattled, and continued until they were down the hill out of sight. The deacon used to say that this was the first instance of sere- nading or "horning" a couple, after they were married, that ever occurred in this town. Such was not the fact, how- ever, for it was of general occurrence in the olden times. It is related that the day was set for the marriage of Asa D. Eager, who lived on the brook near the present residence of the Mirick sisters, and Lucy Dufur. The young people made extensive preparations to celebrate the event ; but Mr. Eager, learning what was contemplated, took time by the forelock, and at midnight of the night previous took his bride, went up to Mr. Rice's, and was married. The young people had their fun, but being pleased at the way in which
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THE STATE PRISON.
they had been " out flanked," let him off much easier than they otherwise would.
In October, 1807, David Connor, familiarly known for years as "King David," was married to Miss Sally Hastings, of Hopkinton. Knowing the time the marriage was to take place, the people of the village, upon both sides of the river, made preparations to give him a "welcome." As soon as he passed through the village to Mr. Sawyer's, to be mar- ried, the people collected. Maj. Crocker was placed upon the top of Elias Gould's tan-shop, to give notice of their ap- proach after the ceremony had been performed. He had not long to wait, for he soon swung his hat and cried out, "Dey's comin' !" and with the horns "tooting," the cops and pins rattling, and sheet-iron pans buzzing, they escorted them through the village, and well on their way home. The manner in which it was conducted was considered by Mr. Connor and his bride as rather a compliment than other- wise.
The present state prison in this state was built, or at least a part of it, in 1812. Quite an excitement was created throughout the state in regard to the feasibility of such a thing, and a good deal of opposition was manifested against it in many places. Especially were the members of the legislature that passed the act authorizing the same se- verely denounced by many. At the time for the assem- bling of the legislature of this year a very large number of representatives from the west side of this state, as was their usual custom, passed down through this town. It so hap- pened that upon the day that the most of these members passed through town, Lieut. Samuel Wadsworth, who was bitterly opposed to the building of the prison, and his neigh- bors, were at work upon the highway at "Westbury Cor- ner." A party of some half dozen members, coming along at one time, halted when they came up with Mr. Wadsworth and his workmen. Wishing to have a little fun with them, and wishing to taunt them a little for their votes the year
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HISTORY OF HENNIKER.
before, he said, "I guess, by the way that people are pass- ing by, the state prison will be filled the first year!" This was a poser for the members, but one of them, who had known Mr. Wadsworth for many years, quickly replied,- "Oh, no, I guess not, for I see you are mending your ways."
DANIEL B. ALLEY.
Mr. Alley was perhaps the most eccentric person that lived in this town in the early days. He resided upon the place now owned and occupied by John F. Perry. He came to the town from Newport, or Providence, Rhode Island.
Mr. Alley was known as a " new light" in the society of Friends, of which he was a prominent member at one time. He travelled about the country quite extensively, preaching the doctrine of the "new lights," which, he insisted, un- folded a deeper insight into the mysteries of revelation than did the teachings of the older founders of the sect.
When his wife died, her remains were placed in a coffin, then carried into the cellar of the house, where they re- mained several weeks. Mr. Alley dug a large hole in one corner of his farm, stoned it with rough stones, and there he conveyed the remains of his wife. His neighbors used
to say that he used this place for storing his vegetables dur- ing the winter. Mr. Alley was finally insane, and when it became unsafe to allow him to travel about, and his disease became more alarming, he was placed by his friends at the temporary asylum at Concord, then used for the insane of the state. He caused his attendants a good deal of trouble at times, but a marked improvement soon taking place, he was allowed to take frequent walks with his attendant. One morning, however, he concluded to come to his home in Henniker. He arose early in the morning, escaped from the building, and upon the railing of the bridge which he crossed before leaving Concord, he wrote, " Daniel B. Alley has gone home." Such proved to be the case, but he was allowed to remain with his friends, and shortly afterwards died.
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STORIES.
BEAR STORIES.
Bears were at one time quite numerous within this town- ship, and many were the conflicts had with them by the old settlers. One of the most remarkable adventures of this kind occurred during the early settlement of the town upon the place so long known as the Gould Harriman farm, now owned by Mr. Codman. It was then owned and occupied by Moses Huse and his wife. Mr. Huse was a preacher as well as a farmer, and of delicate constitution compared with his wife, who was of Indian extraction. She was small, but of wiry, powerful muscle, who used to take her end of the log in clearing the land. One morning, late in the au- tumn, Mr. Huse, and a friend who was visiting him for a few days, started out upon a bear-hunt. At the proper time Mrs. Huse commenced her preparations for supper. There were no cellars under the houses in those early days; but a "potato hole" was dug near the house, which was covered during the winter with bark, boards, or thatch. In this hole were placed the vegetables for the season. Mrs. Huse handed a pan to one of her little girls, and said, "Go out to the cellar hole and get some sass," meaning vegetables to boil. The child went to the edge of the wood, when she heard a noise in the leaves, but could see nothing. Being alarmed, she returned and informed her mother that she had heard a noise in the wood, and was afraid to go any further. Her mother assured her that there was nothing to be afraid of, and sent her back; but the girl, hearing the same noise again, returned to her mother with the same story as before, when Mrs. Huse said, " I'll go and see what I can do." On reaching the place designated, she heard the same noise, and, looking about, she spied a bear at work in the leaves a short distance from her. She immediately gave him chase, picking up as she ran a huge pine knot, "with a train as long as yer arm," she said, and came up with him just as he had begun the ascent of a tree. She gave him a
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