USA > New Hampshire > Cheshire County > Marlborough > History of the town of Marlborough, Cheshire County, New Hampshire > Part 27
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hand, a common school in his brain, and the Declaration of Independence in his heart.
But this day comes to us emphasized with a twofold inter- est. We meet to celebrate, not only the birthday of our Nation, but the incorporation of our native town. From far and near, we have assembled around the shrine of our nativity, that we may lay thereon offerings of gratitude and thanksgiving.
Surrounded as we are with these comforts and blessings of happy homes, successful enterprises, flourishing schools, and consecrated churches, retrospection bids us look upon the picture a hundred years ago. Then, as a natural exhibition, it must have been attractive, being so diversified with high- lands and lowlands, lakes and rivers, forests and mountains, balmiest air and fairest sunlight. It must have been strangely inviting to look upon, for the admirer of the grand and beautiful. But for one to penetrate then into the wilderness, with the view of settling here, must have been foreboding. Then the ear was greeted with no busy din from anvil or quarry; no whistle from saw or engine. But the wide-spreading woods must have rendered the day lonely ; and the hooting of the owl, the growl of the bear, and the barking of the wolf must have made the night fearfully hideous.
Hither came in that early time a few adventurers who opened up a cavern in the earth, or built the rudest log hut in which to dwell. This was to be their future home. There was no cleared land for raising corn. There was no grist-mill within the distance of eight or ten miles. So they were forced for some time to follow Indian trails, or tracks marked by spotted trees, to improved fields where they could labor till they had earned means with which to pur- chase a bushel of corn. With this on the back, they would go to the mill, and, after it was ground, would bear it far away to their homes. When sickness came, what must they have done? There were no neighbors, nor physicians at hand. Then, when the dark messenger snatched from their embrace a companion, child, or parent, no kind friends were
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near to divide their sorrows ; no pastor was by their side to point them to the many mansions. Those were hardships which we can but faintly understand. Still, they were realities to the few who were wont to walk through these valleys and climb over these hills a hundred years ago.
These wild lands, it appears, were set off into a township under the name of Monadnock, No. V., May 25, 1752. The township was granted by charter to the proprietors of land purchased of John Tufton Mason by their agent, Joseph Blanchard, to James Morrison, Jr., and thirty-three others, belonging mostly to the towns of Derry and Dunstable, N.H.
One account says these proprietors soon transferred their right to David Church and others who resided in Marlbor- ough and Westborough, Mass. In 1762, the town was surveyed. In 1764, Sept. 17, the first family moved into the township. It consisted of William Barker, his wife and three children, who came from Westborough, Mass., and settled on what is called West Hill, now in the limits of Troy. Isaac McCollester with his family moved to town the same year, and settled on the Deacon James Farrar- place. His daughter Dolly who was born Feb. 12. 1766, is supposed to have been the first child having birth in the town. Others, also, came abont the same time. Abel Woodward settled on what is known as the Joslin place in this village ; likewise Daniel Goodenow, who resided in various localities. In August, 1765, Benjamin Tucker with a large family moved into town, and settled near the Whit- ney and Tarbell Mill. There he kept the first tavern in town. During the next two years, it is evident, more fami- lies arrived : for when the first census was taken, which was in 1767, there were ninety-three inhabitants in the township. Of these, sixteen couples were married. In 1775. the second census was taken, showing the population had increased to three hundred and twenty-four, of whom one hundred and forty-eight were females, and one hundred and four were males under sixteen years of age. Fifty- four were upwards of sixteen, and two men were over fifty.
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Sixteen men had now already entered the Continental Army. Of these early settlers, nearly all came from old Marlborough, Westborough, Southborough, and Bolton, Mass. Their hearts were fired with the true spirit of patri- otism. At this period, the whole country was heated and ready to burst into martial flames. In this time of fiery trials, our native State was remarkably free from toryism. All were ready to strike mighty blows for freedom. As the cry went forth from Boston on the 19th of April, 1775, pen- etrating farther and farther into the country, declaring that the British troops were marching toward old Concord, bells were rung, drums beat roll-calls, men were hurrying from all quarters ; axes were dropped in the forests ; ploughs were left in the fields; muskets were wrenched from the man- tel-pieces, powder-horns and pouches were slung over the ' shoulders, blankets were tied to their backs ; with faces ex- pressive of courage and determination, might be seen men hurrying to the fields of strife. Though devoted wives and tender mothers wept, yet they bid patriotic husbands and brave sons go forth, striking valiantly for God and country. It seems but a day elapsed before a vast army was marching, ready to do bloody work at Concord, Lexington, and Bun- ker's Hill. Stark quickly deserted his saw-mill at London- derry, as he heard the booming cannon. Putnam left his plough in the furrow, not even stopping to change his dress, but hurried to the place of carnage.
This is a fit occasion for us to bestow fresh tributes of love upon the life of Warren, whose courage and bravery found an early grave, but whose memory will live in the hearts of his countrymen. It is just for us to prune and revive the laurel growing by the tomb of a Putnam. It is befitting we should cleanse with the waters of retrospection the epitaph inscribed on the monument of a Stark. Let us forever cherish the deeds of the brave men and heroic women of that early, critical period.
Marlborough with other towns of the Granite State bore its share of hardships in the Revolution. We are assured that no less than forty-three from our town enlisted to gain
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and maintain our independence. It is said thirty-nine who were in the army afterwards settled in town. One James Lewis served several years as captain in the Revolution. Robert Worsley who was a peculiar though strictly reliable and worthy man, entering the army almost at the first call, was at the battle of Bunker Hill, June 17, 1775. After the evacuation of Boston by the British, a thousand soldiers, under the leadership of Benedict Arnold, left Boston, press- ing their way toward Quebec through the dense wilderness of Maine. Marching to the Kennebec River, thence they embarked in open boats, struggling against current and barriers till they reached the head waters of that river ; thence they bore their boats, heavily laden with army sup- plies, across to the waters of the Chaudière, following it down to the St. Lawrence, six miles above Quebec. In this perilous march, their sufferings must have been beyond description. They were terribly harassed by Indians; and in the midst of the wilderness, their rations failing them, they were forced, as Mr. Worsley reported, to eat the leather of their shoes and cartridge-boxes. As they emerged from the woods, approaching a settlement, a dog saluting them with a bark, was shot at once. Mr. Worsley says : " It fell to my lot to dress the animal. While I was pulling out the entrails, the famishing soldiers, excited by- the scent, snatched away the flesh, leaving for me only what I was able to clutch in my hands." Although the flesh was raw, he testified "it was the sweetest meat he ever ate." In another company, at the same time, he says, " some men came upon the carcass of a hog, which was eaten quicker than he could tell the story." Verily, were not those the
times that tried men's souls? The oppression of the mother country had fired the hearts of our fathers with truest bravery, and moved their minds with the determi- nation to conquer or die. With the boldest stroke of the pen, those members of the Continental Congress put their names to that immortal Declaration which is being empha- sized to-day by more than forty millions of free people, and is being honored throughout the world. With that Dec-
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laration, supported by patriotic fathers, our own "Colony " of New Hampshire was made an independent State; and on the 13th of December, 1776, our township received from this State, carved out of rocky hills and mountains, its corporate charter as the town of Marlborough. In July of the same year, the "Test Act" was circulated. Fifty citizens signed it, all but one wrote his own name; while only five refused to put theirs to it. What the exact pur- port of this "Test Act" was, we do not know; but it is safe to infer, it meant death to toryism and life to freedom.
In the war of 1812, Marlborough was true to her high behests. At least fourteen brave men went forth from its limits to do their duty, in driving forever British foes from American soil. The bravery and patriotism of the fathers should be held in lasting remembrance. We have reason to feel their mantles have fallen upon worthy shoulders from the loyalty and exalted daring of their sons in the recent Rebellion. In their race with Sheridan to Winchester town, in their unparalleled march under Sherman through the ex- tended territory of the enemy, in Grant's repeated battles in the Wilderness, they proved that the spirit of "76 " was still rife in American hearts. Our heroes of a hundred years ago, and our heroes of to-day,-may they be loved and hon- ored in all true hearts, and their genius and patriotism will create the noblest heroes of the future !
The ecclesiastical history of this town antedates a little its incorporation. The earliest record we have touching the subject, dates back to 1770, in which year the first meeting- house was raised, and the roof covered. At that raising, the town voted to give Benjamin Tucker 38. 2d. 2qrs. per gallon for eight gallons of rum at "ye raising of ye meeting-house." This house was not boarded till the next spring ; but the first meeting was held in it while the roof only was covered. It is said the outside was finished in 1774; but this probably did not include glass windows or hinged doors, for in 1779 it was voted to put in eleven windows, hang the doors, lay the lower floor, and build the body-seats. To cover this ex- pense, a special tax of eightpence per acre was laid upon all
44
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ratable lands in town. But the house was not fully com- pleted till 1790. It then had neither steeple nor chimney, and for many years was called the " Lord's Barn."
In 1771, a tax of one farthing per acre on ratable lands was raised for the purpose of procuring preaching. A com- mittee of three was chosen, consisting of Benjamin Tucker, Daniel Goodenow, and James Brewer, to hire a minister. It was likewise stated that the preaching was to commence the first of June. It is evident preaching was secured, at least, a portion of the time that year, from the fact that June the 23d three children of Daniel Goodenow were bap- tized. These were the first baptisms in town. We find no minister mentioned by name until 1778. On the 11th of November of the same year, the first church, consisting of eight members, was formed, and at the same time Rev. Joseph Cummings from Topsfield, Mass., was ordained their pastor. This solemn service of consecration, tradition says, was per- formed on a work-bench, there being no desk as yet in the house, while the congregation were seated on loose boards resting on blocks. In these days, people were certain not to go beyond their means, or in any way appear extravagant. This is made evident from the fact that they voted to give their minister, as salary, forty pounds sterling the first year, forty-five the second, and fifty pounds the third, and con- tinue at fifty pounds yearly, till there should be one hundred and ten families in town, and then give him £66 138. 4d. yearly, so long as he should continue their gospel minister. The above sums were to be made equivalent to rye at 38. 4d. per bushel. These good people designed that their minister should also have a home among them, so they provided for him the prospective parsonage in this way. He was to have one share or lot of land laid out for that purpose, consisting of a hundred and fifty acres, except four acres around the meeting-house ; which were reserved for public use; said land was to be cleared by the town. The pastor also had the privi- lege of cutting timber for his house on the ministerial lot. The first parsonage was located a little distance south-west of the Old Meeting-house. Just how long it was kept as a
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parsonage is not known; but I am informed it was at length converted into a tavern,-to say the least, a sad terminus for a parsonage.
The first church in town was organized as Congregational, and has continued to be an influential and a successful one to the present time. Among its revered ministers, the names of Fish and Lyman are especially endeared to many hearts.
The first Methodist preaching was introduced to Marlbor- ough by Daniel Emerson, in 1791. After meetings had been held occasionally for three years in the house of Mr. Emerson by Revs. Hill, Hall, and Wager, the latter divine preaching an able discourse from the text, "These three years have we come seeking fruit, and found none," formed a class consisting of seven persons. This sect continued to hold their meetings for some time in the same place. At length, preaching was transferred to the residence of Eben- ezer Herrick, where meetings were held on the Sabbath for many years. Afterwards they were transferred back to Mr. Emerson's for a while, at which time the first Sabbath school of this society was organized; thence, for a series of years, to Thomas White's ; thence to William Greenwood's, and thence to Abner Russell's, up to 1844, when a church- edifice was built at Pottersville, where the Methodist society held meetings for twenty years; then purchasing the Baptist meeting-house of this village, and refitting it, they have continued their Sabbath worship, proving themselves an earnest Christian people.
The early Baptists of this town worshipped for many years in Pottersville. At length, they had occasional meet- ings in the Old Meeting-house on the hill, and finally were able to build a house of worship in this village. Among their good ministers settled here, the names of Cummings, French, Danforth, Clarke, and Ware, must be especially remembered by those who listened to their social and relig- ious instructions.
Some eighty years ago, the Universalists in town began to have occasional preaching. Not until 1805 was a society formed. In 1851 their church-edifice was erected, and in
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1875 their church-organization was perfected. Among their sainted ministers may be mentioned Baily, Bassett, and Record.
It is pleasant for us to realize now the fact that there never have been any bitter religious persecutions in this town. As a rule, all have been left to choose religiously for themselves with none to molest or make afraid.
In this connection, I am pleased to make mention of the worthy sons of Marlborough who have entered the ministry. Rev. Cyrus Stone was the first one who went forth as a gos- pel minister. Fitted for his work, he sought heathen lands, bearing the "glad news " to famishing souls. Self-sacrificing in spirit, he spent his life in the Master's service.
Rev. Osgood Herrick was another minister who won laurels at home and abroad for his ability and power in the pulpit.
Rev. Luther Wiswall who is still laboring as a preacher, has proved himself worthy and successful. He is regarded by his people, where he has been long settled, as a man of culture and sound judgment. He is most esteemed where he is best known.
Rev. William C. Whitcomb, of sainted memory to so many of us, was an eloquent preacher and true reformer. Though the destroyer cut him down in his prime, yet his life was earnest, faithful, and full of good works.
Rev. Philander Wallingford has long labored as a worthy Christian minister. If age has written its furrows on his brow, his heart is still young and his mind strong with Gospel truth.
Another whose face is familiar to most of us is Rev. Edwin Davis who is known only to be respected for his ability and moral worth. He has already written out for himself an honored name as a Christian minister.
John Capron and your speaker, two other clergymen, had their birth in your town.
Let the spirit of the Master continue to work in the churches of to-day, and they will bless and prosper as never in the past, and will hasten the good time when "swords
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shall be beaten into ploughshares, and spears into pruning- hooks." Christians never have gained anything by perse- cuting. Wherein they cannot agree as to the letter, they ought to agree to disagree, and then they would enjoy the fruit of the spirit which giveth life and Christian growth.
Of the educational history of the town, you have already in print and circulation an interesting account of your schools for the past hundred years. This supersedes the necessity of my dwelling upon items and particulars.
It seems our forefathers in the early settlement of the town took wise forethought, setting apart a portion of land for the support of schools. However insignificant the little seeds which they planted may seem to us, nevertheless, they took root, sprung up, and have produced a hundred-fold of fruitage. Feebly could that first teacher in Marlborough, James Brewer, during the winter of 1770 and 1771, have estimated what would be the result of that little school which he was keeping in the private house of Phinehas Farrar. How grand is the centennial tree which we behold, the outgrowth of that tiny planting! Its blossoming has been prolific, and its fruits are verily manifold. With pride we may look to the schools of our native town. They have furnished more than a hundred and seventy-five scholars who have gone forth as teachers. Well may it be asked, “ What other town in New Hampshire, with a population little more than a thousand inhabitants, can show a larger and more honorable list than this?" But none can feel Marlborough has been too liberal in the support of her schools. To this and her religious instructions may be traced, in no small degree, the reasons why so few crimes have been committed within her limits; why there have been so few paupers ; why, possibly, the town never has been able to support a lawyer; why temperance organizations and literary associa- tions have been so successful. Had it not been for her schools, do you think she would have sent forth Philip Sweetser, Joseph C. Mason, Luther Jones, Marquis De Lafayette M'Collester, William Converse, as lawyers, who rank high in their profession, and whose future is full of promise ?
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Had it not been for your schools, Hannah Jones, now Mrs. Grosvenor, would not have been fired with an ambition for a collegiate education, which she obtained under difficulties, when it was unpopular for a woman to be thoroughly edu- cated. Neither would Henry W. Greenwood have fitted himself for a first-class engineer; and many others made themselves eminent as teachers, or skilful craftsmen in wood, iron, and stone.
Marlborough has furnished her full share of professional men. Quite a number have received a college-education.
She has sent forth her quota of ministers, physicians, law- yers, and eminent men. Let her foster her schools, taking advantage of every possible improvement of the age, and the rising generations will increase in love for intellectual culture and moral growth. In this way, new charms will cluster in her beautiful vales, and new glories will be re- flected from her lofty and picturesque hills.
Often has the remark been made, as travellers have been passing through your town : "How bright and new the build- ings look! How singular such a thriving village should spring up where the hills and rocks are so numerous!"
Cherish and support your schools, and more taste will be displayed, and greater attractions offered. Let these be what you can make them, and they will stand as beacons upon your hills to reflect honor and glory far and wide.
As a great help in this work of education, which gives to the present and the future advantage over the past, is your Free Library, the munificent gift of Hon. Rufus S. Frost, the ex-Mayor of his adopted city, and forever the well-wisher of his native town. . That substantial stone structure, quarried from our ledges, and completed in 1866, at a cost of $8,000, and furnished with $2,000 worth of books, and $5,000 more. funded, so that its annual interest can be used yearly for replenishing it with new books,- all this he presented to your town, in behalf of the cause of education and Chris- tianity. To show due honor and gratitude to the generous donor, let the books in that library be read and studied,- books of history, poetry, biography, ethics, science; and
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minds here will come in contact with gifted minds elsewhere. Yes, close acquaintance may be enjoyed in this quiet town with Socrates, Schiller, Shakespeare, Scott, Franklin, Whit- tier, and a host of other gifted minds. In this age, for a town to be without a library is like an art-gallery without windows. Books are the glasses through which the young can see the past. Let them carefully and studiously scruti- nize prophets and apostles, heroes and heroines, and they will desire to imitate their virtues, and walk their gilded heights. There is no other such monument to perpetuate noble worth as a choice library.
" Blessings be with them, and eternal praise to Him who gives us choicest books and free libraries."
From tradition and records, we learn that the long list of · physicians who have practised medicine in this town the past century have acted no mean or common part. As a rule, they have been men of erudition and influence. One name among them stands out pre-eminent. The thoughts of many turn at once to the name of Dr. James Batcheller, who was not only a skilful physician, but a true politician and real reformer. Soon after he settled in the town, he became a thorough-going anti-slavery man. William Lloyd Garrison was his ideal of a moral hero; and his paper, a perfect paradigm of good news. Though for a long while he was the only subscriber to it in town, still that one copy had a wide circulation. Surely that was the case, if it was sickly ; for, everywhere the doctor went, Garrisonism went. He was a true friend to the sick, the slave, and the good, wherever found. If his eyes were most always shut when he was awake, he saw more than most men. It is said, when he raised the roofing to his brick-house, as the custom was, he furnished plenty of toddy, which made them so merry and jolly they felt they must toast the doctor, as follows : -
" This is the house that James built, With ipecac, tartar, and pills. May he be content therewith, And cure the people of their ills." *
* The author was Major Wiswall.
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This same raising opened the eyes of the doctor; and a few years after, when he was building a barn, he decided it would be raised without any rum, but that he would give to all assisting, after the building was up, a good supper. Everybody seemed to be present at the appointed time, and the greatest excitement prevailed. The rum party, includ- ing most present, did not for some time offer to assist; but a few of the doctor's firm friends commenced the undertak- ing, the doctor continuing to assert the barn would go up without any rum, until, at length, cold water conquering, all took hold with strong hands, merry hearts, and steady heads. When the job was done, every one was fed with abundance of beef and potatoes, pork and beans, brown bread and pumpkin pies, cold water and spruce beer, making them more healthy and wise. Thus the good doctor early com- . menced preaching and practising temperance, which he con- tinucd to do so long as he lived.
In this connection, I would say Marlborough has sent forth young men who have become successful physicians ; namely, Drs. Timothy Lane, Jeremiah Stone, Willard Adams, Jairus B. Collins, Augustus Davis, John Q. A. M'Collester, Daniel B. Woodward, and Sumner Mason. Some of these have become eminent in their profession.
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