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 30
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POULTRY.
A great deal of attention has been given in late years to the raising of poultry for the market, and for their eggs. The town has long been famous for its abundance of eggs that are annually sold. The egg crop of the town is esti- mated at thirty thousand dozen a year, having a value of at least six thousand dollars. Nearly every family has its little flock, which prove to them quite remunerative. Tur- keys and geese are not very plenty.
ANTI-SLAVERY.
Slavery having been abolished in all the Northern states of the Union, the question of its continuance in the South- ern states, and its rightfulness, began to agitate the minds of the Northern people. The motto, "Unconditional Eman- cipation," so boldy proclaimed by William Lloyd Garrison
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ANTI-SLAVERY.
in 1832, became the rallying cry of a portion of the people of the North. Anti-slavery societies, for the furtherance of the cause, were formed in all the larger places of the New England states, as well as elsewhere. The first society of the kind formed in this town was in March, 1835. Rev. G. A. Putnam was president, and Rev. A. Kidder, secretary. Mr. Putnam was the Methodist clergyman, and Mr. Kidder the Baptist. Several conventions were held here, the two largest of which were in October, 1843, and February 14 and 15, 1843. This last was probably the most important of the anti-slavery conventions ever held here. It convened the first day in the Brick chuch, it having been opened by Abijah Hildreth, who then claimed to be the principal owner. The second day it was held in the town-house. People from Bradford and other neighboring towns were present. These meetings were addressed by Parker Pills- bury, N. P. Rogers, John R. French, late Sergeant-at-arms of the U. S. Senate, Rev. Mr. Wellman, a Methodist clergy- man from Bradford, Lewis Smith, Esq., of this town, and others. Mr. Rogers said of this meeting, in a letter to the Herald of Freedom, shortly after,-
I have rarely seen a more interested auditory than in the afternoon of the second day, when the floor of the old town- house was filled close, with a compact standing mass of thoughtful, pondering men and women, minds and hearts all deeply excited on the great question of human rights, their outrages and their remedies. A kind of intellectual and moral magnetism seemed to pervade the entire mass. They looked as with a single eye. They seemed of one mind. And the meeting embraced the best intellect of a very intelligent town. A very generous hospitality was shown by the people to the numerous strangers who had come unexpectedly among them. Nothing was wanting to make it a complete and triumphant meeting.
Frequent meetings were held, which were addressed by the most noted champions of the cause, among whom was Frederick Douglass, the well known colored orator. The subject was most fully discussed in shop and store by all.
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HISTORY OF HENNIKER.
TITHING-MEN.
Jedediah Peabody moved here from Kennebunk, Maine, with his ox-team, in 1781. He arrived at Hopkinton Satur- day night, and on Sunday morning yoked up his oxen and proceeded on his journey. He had not proceeded far when he was met by the tithing-men of the town, who informed him that he could go no farther upon that day. He remon- strated upon being detained, as he was anxious to reach this town that day, but his appeals were of no avail, and his team was unyoked and rested until Monday morning, when he was allowed to proceed.
"AMMI BROOK."
Shortly after Ammi Peabody was married, he was, in com- pany with several neighbors, at work upon the banks of the brook which follows down the Bradford road to near the "Alley spring," where it makes a detour south-easterly, and empties into the Contoocook river below Asa P. Wiggin's. This brook had been known for many years in its lower part as the " Saw-mill brook." While resting at noon, some one proposed that the brook be then and there named, when David Bowman proposed that it be called "Ammi brook " for Mr. Peabody, which name was adopted with cheers.
CHAPTER XXI.
FALL OF A MINISTER-ROPE-WALK-INDIANS-READING AND SEWING CIRCLE-FIRST STOVE IN A MEETING- HOUSE - CHAIR FACTORY - ANECDOTES - HATTERS, SHOPS-EARTHQUAKES-GREAT FROST-GREAT SNOW- STORM-SECOND HOUSE IN TOWN-HIGHWAY WAR- RANT-FUNERAL-RUNAWAY BOY-CORONER'S JURY- WILLOW TREE-ELM TREE-LIBRARY-REMINISCENCES.
A VERY amusing affair happened in the Congrega- tional meeting-house, built near Mr. Rice's. As soon as it was raised, boarded, and shingled, blocks of tim- ber were carried into the body of the house, upon which were placed rough boards for seats for the audience. A rough scaffolding was built upon the north end for a pulpit, and loose steps laid to pass up into it. It was customary in those olden times for the congregation to remain stand- ing, at the close of the service, until the clergyman had passed out of the house. One Sunday the congregation waited as usual for Mr. Sawyer to pass out. Mr. Sawyer, as he attempted to make the descent of the steps, made a misstep at the top stair, and landed head first at the bottom, taking each step with him in his rapid descent. Nothing serious happened, however, and Mr. Sawyer passed out of the house, his congregation following him, much pleased that he had received no permanent injury, although the younger portion of the congregation indulged in many a hearty laugh among themselves at the ludicrous figure Mr. Sawyer presented as he fell.
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HISTORY OF HENNIKER.
ROPE-WALK.
Isaac Whitaker settled under the north-east side of Craney hill, southerly from the present residence of Mrs. William H. Gilmore. On this place Mr. Whitaker estab- lished a rope-walk, at which he manufactured quite a large amount of bed-cords, fish and fly-nets, and numerous other useful articles, all made of linen. The women in different parts of the town spun his thread for him, ready to be laid up. He had a harness, which he used for years, made en- tirely of lines manufactured by himself. He exchanged a good many manufactured articles for flax. He prose- cuted the business for several years, and prospered, selling his wares in all the towns round about. His work was done in a strong and faithful manner. In conversation with an old lady, who had known of his work, she pronounced it ex- cellent, and then said,-"Things that were manufactured at home in the olden times were better than those made now-a- days ; not so many new-fangled things and trash as there is now." That the good old lady was not far from right we must all confess.
INDIANS.
The territory comprised within the limits of this town- ship was a favorite place of resort of the Indians before its settlement. The principal tribe in this section was the Penacooks, whose chief settlements were where Concord and Manchester now stand. When the English first made the acquaintance of this tribe, their chief was the celebrated Passaconaway, who was considered by his subjects almost the Divinity himself,-that " he could make trees dance and water burn."
This tribe was at one time the cause of a good deal of anxiety to the early settlers, as they did much mischief, coming at one time into the town of Hopkinton and captur- ing eight persons. This so alarmed the few settlers at
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INDIANS.
Hillsborough that they abandoned their claims, and did not return until after the expiration of fifteen years.
The Penacooks emigrated to Canada during the French and Indian war, but made frequent raids upon the settlers in this vicinity during that war.
Many Indian graves were found in this town by the ear- lier settlers, mostly in the easterly part of the town. Tools and implements of their manufacture have been found often upon the plain east of the village, upon the banks of the Contoocook, and near the ponds in the easterly part of the town. The plain easterly from the village was a favorite Indian resort for camping, and Gove's pond was a desirable place for fishing purposes. Many of the relics found ex- hibit most excellent workmanship. In the summer of 1875 a party at work upon the highway near Whitaker's pond ploughed up in the travelled road the skull of an Indian, the jaws being perfect, and the teeth in them complete. The body of which it was a part must have been buried fully one century and a quarter ago. No stream of its size in the state, and no ponds elsewhere, afforded better fishing- ground for them, and nothing better than the adjacent lands for camping. There is no tradition of more than one Indian having been killed in the township by a white man. This is the one in the account of the building of the first saw- mill. There is no tradition of any building having been burned by them within the township, neither was any white person killed by them. They continued to molest the set- tlers up to the time the first permanent settlements were made in this town, when, the French and Indian war having been brought to a close, they left for their new homes.
Occasionally a scouting party, still harboring some re- vengeful thought, made raids upon the lower settlements, doing considerable injury. They often visited this town after its settlement, but did no mischief, as they were ever treated with kindness by the early settlers, often giving them food, and harboring them in their dwellings over
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HISTORY OF HENNIKER.
night. It was a proverbial saying among those Indians, that no damage must be done the white man in No. 6, for there they were always treated kindly. They soon disap- peared from this vicinity, and, in a quarter of a century after the first permanent settlement of the town, one was rarely seen.
READING AND SEWING CIRCLE.
In the winter of 1818-'19 quite a number of the young ladies and gentlemen residing here formed a circle for the purpose of improving themselves in the art of reading. The larger part of this number were teachers, or had been such at a previous time. The meetings were held weekly, in the school-house upon the common. Each member, in alphabetical order, had the privilege of reading fifteen min- utes at one time. Artemas Rogers was appointed monitor, to criticise and correct. Enoch Darling was his assist- ant, and filled the position when Rogers was necessarily ab- sent. Prose and poetry were read, at the option of the reader. These meetings proved very pleasant, and much improvement was visible in reading. In the spring of 1819 the ladies belonging to this circle met at the house of Hon. Joshua Darling, and organized a "sewing-circle,"-meeting in the afternoon, once in two weeks, at the house of some member of the circle, to sew and manufacture various arti- cles, the gentlemen being invited in the evening, which was spent in social intercourse. The gentlemen were expected to contribute sufficient from their means to purchase the material to be manufactured.
In a short time four boxes of clothing, quilts, and other necessary articles were sent to the Indian missions. This was the commencement of the efforts upon the part of the ladies of this town towards assisting the poor and the needy in different parts of our land, and which is still continued to a greater or less degree. The cabin of many a missionary, far out upon the open prairie, has been made more cheerful
409
FIRST STOVE IN A MEETING-HOUSE.
and comfortable, and his wife and little ones more happy, and the burdens of life more endurable, through the generous gifts that have gone out so freely from the ladies of this circle. During the Rebellion, their efforts were turned in the direction of help for the soldier. An immense amount of labor was performed by them. Box after box was started on its glad mission, and still the busy hands were at work. No matter what the tidings ;- if good, then fingers flew the faster ; if discouraging, no heart faltered ; but all were ani- mated with the desire to assist the suffering. We are un- able to ascertain the amount sent out during the war ; but it was large, for package followed package in quick succes- sion.
At the close of the war their efforts were directed to helping the freedmen, and large quantities of new and half- worn clothing were sent to them, and received with grateful hearts. And so, besides the missionary, the sick and wound- ed boys in the War of the Rebellion felt their kindness, and were cheered by the remembrance that gentle, busy fingers were at work for them in the homes they loved so well, and which so many of them were never to see again. From the formation of this circle many a kind deed has been done, many a heart has been made glad, and many have had oc- casion to say, God bless the ladies of Henniker for their un- tiring efforts to make the homes of the poor more comfort- able, to cheer the heart of the dying boy far away from his loved home, and to hold up and strengthen the hands of those who had been made free before God and man.
FIRST STOVE IN A MEETING-HOUSE.
George W. Cogswell was teacher of the school in District No. 3, in this town, in the winter of 1826-'27. He required " compositions" from his larger scholars at stated periods. One day he requested one of his pupils to compose some- thing suitable to be placed at the head of a subscription pa- per soliciting funds to purchase a stove for the Congrega-
27
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HISTORY OF HENNIKER.
tional meeting-house. The task was completed in the course of the day, and read as follows :
We the subscribers, desirous of promoting a better attendance on the services of the sanctuary, will pay the sums set against our respective names, for the purpose of procuring a suitable stove, to be placed in the Congregational Meeting House.
The young man who composed it was Parker Pillsbury, who, with his younger brothers, came to the village that evening, circulated the paper freely, and before they returned home had the satisfaction of seeing enough subscribed to procure the desired article. The stove was immediately purchased and placed in the meeting-house. Whether the attendance at the church was materially increased we are not able to state.
CHAIR FACTORY.
John Kirk carried on the business of chair-making, mend- ing and bottoming the same in a little shop on the brook southerly from A. D. L. F. Connor's. This shop was situ- ated near the junction of the main road with the " butter road," so-called. The August freshet of 1826 washed the shop away, and it was never rebuilt.
ANECDOTES.
Jonas Bowman, so long a leading man in the town, was a man of indomitable will, and very stubborn, but most gener- ally succeeded in accomplishing whatever he undertook. It is related that at one meeting of the town, when some offi- cer was being voted for, a voter came up, and, handing his vote to the moderator, said,-" Mr. Moderator, here's a vote for Jonas Bowman : if he tells a lie, he'll stick to it."
Old Mr. Thomas Stone and his wife had a good many " family jars," and to such an extent were they indulged in, that the mischievous boys used to annoy them by throwing stones against their dwelling. One night, in the midst of
4II
FOR SALE.
a "squall" inside the house, the stones came against the outside as usual. Forgetting his difference with his wife, Mr. Stone immediately opened the door and commenced to pursue the boys. His wife appeared in the door and sang out, "Lick 'em, Stone! Lick 'em, Stone!" The old man, very much vexed, turned to his wife and said very sharply, "Catch 'em first, won't you!"
HATTER'S SHOP.
Quite an extensive business was done at one time in the manufacture of hats, by Charles Pingree, at his shop, which stood where was recently the barn owned by David W. Cogs- well, on the plain easterly from the village. He disposed of his hats to the people of this and adjoining towns, and also sent many of them to the larger places in Massachusetts. After a while the business began to decrease, and Mr. Pin- gree offered his business and place for sale in the following manner :
FOR SALE.
At Public Auction on the 30th of November next, an excel- lent Stand for a Hatter or almost any tradesman, situated about half a mile east of the meeting house on the main road leading from Hillsborough to Hopkinton, containing about twelve acres of Land of superior quality.
This Stand is better calculated for a Hatter than any other tradesman, as it is now in almost a proper situation for such a mechanic, the kettles being already set. Terms of payment made liberal to the purchaser. Charles Pingree.
Henniker, Oct. 25, 1815.
This stand was sold to a Mr. Durgin, who pursued the business of hat-making for many years after, the business finally running down upon his hands.
Jesse Ward manufactured hats for several years at West Henniker, in a little shop that stood on the "island." Mr. Ward was a superior workman, and lived where Alonzo Pat- terson and son now reside. Mr. Warde finally gave up the business, and pursued that of hotel-keeping.
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HISTORY OF HENNIKER.
EARTHQUAKES.
Hardly a year passes but what distinct shocks of the quaking of the earth are felt in this town. They are usual- ly accompanied with a dull, rumbling sound, resembling the passing of a heavily-loaded wagon, and are quite short in duration. One of the first to attract the attention of the people was during the evening of Monday, Nov. 29, 1814, at seven o'clock. The motion was from west to east, and was very perceptibly felt. The most severe one yet experi- enced here was upon Sunday, Oct. 5, 1817, at ten minutes before twelve at noon. Mr. Sawyer was delivering his morning discourse, and so severe was the undulatory mo- tion that some people left the church; but no serious alarm was given, and Mr. Sawyer finished his sermon. In some places nearly the whole congregation rushed into the open air.
GREAT FROST.
The great frost which occurred during the night of May 17, 1794, was one of the most destructive ever known in this part of the country. It was particularly so in this town. The season was uncommonly forward. Small fruits were well grown, and the apples upon the trees were as large as potato-balls, with every appearance of an abundant harvest. Corn was out of the ground, and in many places had been hoed the first time. Rye, upon burned ground, was headed out, and promised a great yield. The frost destroyed both fruit and the grain. The season had been very mild and pleasant, and such a thing as a heavy frost had not been thought of. But it came with terrible power. Water froze as thick as window-glass, and in some places to the thick- ness of an inch. The season came on warm, and the crops of corn and hay were good, all others being very limited. The frost was known for long years afterwards as the " great white frost."
413
HIGHWAY WARRANT.
SNOW-STORM.
There occurred in this town, Oct. 7, 1804, the largest fall of snow ever witnessed here in the fall of the year. Snow fell to the depth of over one foot upon the level. Few ap- ples were gathered or potatoes dug. The snow melted from the fields largely, but remained in many places until the next spring. Hundreds of bushels of potatoes were frozen up, and lay in the ground all winter, and were only har- vested when the ground opened in the spring.
SECOND HORSE IN TOWN.
Lieut. Samuel Wadsworth owned the second horse in this town. The date is uncertain, but was probably about 1767. The owner of the first horse is unknown.
HIGHWAY WARRANT.
We give the form of a highway warrant in the olden time. The original, of which this is an exact copy, is in the possession of Moses W. Rice.
State of New Hampshire. To Mr. Daniel Rice, Highway Surveyor for the year, Greeting.
You are hereby required in the name of the State of New Hampshire, to see that the within named persons work out the sums affixed against each of their names in the within List of Rates, which we hearby commit to you, amounting to 14£- 3s-You are to work the following roads : Beginning at Hills- borough Line Near Matthias Heaths, & so easterly on the road By Amsden Mill, over the Plaine, To Cap. David Campbell, and the road By your house, to the Colbeys, also the road to John Harthorns & the new road to Charles Rices Land, and all other adjacent Roads your district formerly used to work on. You are to allow Three shillings Per Day for a sufficient hand & for a yoke of Oxen, from that time to the first Day of Octo- ber next, and after that Time you are to allow Two shillings per Day, and for Carts & other utensils To Be at your Discretion, Reference Being had to the time they are in use.
You are to make return of this Warrant with your Doing to the Selectmen on or Before the first Day of June next : if any
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HISTORY OF HENNIKER.
of the within Named Persons refuse or Neglect to work on said roads after four Days notice Being first given to them, you are to Deal with them as the Law Directs, for which this shall be your Sufficient Warrant. Given under our Hands & Seals at Henniker This 9th Day of June 1792.
Jonas Bowman, Selectmen Francis Bowman, for
David Clough, Henniker.
FUNERAL.
Old Mr. Elijah Rice, who resided with his son Daniel, in " Westbury Corner," was buried upon the 19th day of April, 1785. The snow was very deep at this late time in the spring, and the crust so strong that horses and oxen were driven anywhere with safety. Mr. Rice's body was borne to the grave in the old burial-yard near Mr. Connor's, upon a bier carried by strong, stalwart men. The procession crossed the river at West Henniker, and thence went by a straight line upon the crust directly to the yard. It required the services of several sets of bearers, the distance was so great. The day was bitterly cold, and the friends suffered severely in going to and from the grave.
From The Mirror, printed at Concord, July 17, 1798 :
RUNAWAY BOY.
Ran away from the subscriber on Tuesday last, an indented servant boy, named
Elijah Stone,
16 years old, about 5 feet 8 inches high, has long sandy col- oured hair, light complexion, tall, slim built, and appears in his natural gait rather clumsy. He wore away with him the following species of cloathing, viz. : a damson blue coat and jacket-a pair of Nankeen overalls, and two felt hats.
All persons are forbid trusting said boy on my account : and they are likewise forbid harboring or employing him, as I will prosecute any one who may do so-Whoever will take up said runaway, and return him to his master, or give information where he may be found, shall have Six Dollars reward for their trouble.
Phinehas Campbell.
Henniker, June 30, 1798.
415
AGREEMENT.
Dec. ye 12-1799.
Hillsborough SS. We the Subscribers Being appointed Ap- praisers By David Clough, one of the Justices of the Peace for said County, to appraise a Bay mare with one white foot & a Star in her fourhead, Taken up in the highway the fifth Day of November Last by Walter Bowman, have attended said Busi- ness, and have appraised said mare at the sum of Seventy-Eight Dollars, witness our hands,
Joshua Heath, Jonas Alexander.
Dec. ye 12, 1799. Then the Said Joshua Heath, and Jonas Alexander made oath that in appraising sª mare, they acted ac- cording to their best Skil & Judgment.
Before me,
David Clough, J. P.
There lived at one time, in the north-easterly part of the town, a man by the name of Bancroft, who was a broom- maker by trade. He was a very troublesome man, and con- tinually in a quarrel with some of his neighbors. He was a neighbor of Jonathan Ray, with whom he had some misun- derstanding, and meeting him one day, he assaulted and in- jured him severely. Mr. Ray caused his arrest, and he was arraigned before Judge Darling, to answer to the com- plaint. He pleaded guilty, and was very sorry for his deed. He was discharged by signing to the following
AGREEMENT.
Henniker, June 9, 1809.
I Sievery Bancroft of the Town of Henniker in the county of Hillsborough & State of New Hampshire, yeoman, do obligate myself to pay and deliver unto Mr. Jonathan Ray, of Henniker, one pig, which I now own, two hens, and twelve Good Brooms, in three weeks & I do further obligate myself, that in three weeks from this time I will move myself and Family from the Town of Henniker, and promise never to return to the Town of Henniker to dwell, and provided the said Bancroft complies with the above contract, then the said Ray agrees to discharge the said Sievery Bancroft from a complaint & Warrant which the said Ray issued against him the said Bancroft, and in de- fault of said Bancroft complying with the obligation aforesaid
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HISTORY OF HENNIKER.
then the Judgment awarded in the trial is to be put in full force against me the said Bancroft.
Attest, Thomas Brown, His Joshua Darling, S Sievery X Bancroft Mark.
ANECDOTE.
Bears and wolves were quite numerous in the other parts of the town, especially upon "Goss hill." Isaac Patter- son and his brother Joseph made a clearing near where is now the house of Barak Colby. They were some of the earliest settlers, it will be remembered, of the town. They had a log barn in which they housed the few sheep and the pigs they owned. This had to be done nightly, so plenty were the wild animals. The bears, notwithstanding this precaution, were quite troublesome, especially after the snows became deep and food scarce in the forests. Being troubled with them exceedingly, these two men resolved one night to keep watch and see if some bear could not be killed. About midnight a bear made his appearance at the little barn, when they fired at him, but he made his escape as fast as possible. The next morning, in company with Ephraim Goss, their neighbor, they tracked him into the forest below their house, came up with him, and succeeded in killing him. Mr. Goss came up behind the Pattersons, and fired at the bear, saying at the same time, "There, didn't you hear that whisper?" He was ever after known as "Whisper Goss."
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