USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > Mason > History of the town of Mason, N. H. from the first grant in 1749, to the year 1858 > Part 26
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In January, 1824, he removed to Mason village, and was employed as clerk and treasurer of the Mason Cotton Mill Co., till the failure of that company.
He soon afterwards, built the family residence where his widow still resides, with her son-in-law, Mr. Albert Taft.
From this period till his death, when not engaged in pub- lic business, he was chicfly employed in his work-shop, or upon his farm.
Mr. Stevens, in person, was tall and commanding. His countenance was strongly marked, indicating talent and exec- utive power. In manners, he combined a judge-like gravity, with politeness and affability of deportment.
His strong intellect was early stimulated into active exer- cise, by high aspirations. Self culture, and the mental train- ing which a want of educational helps imposes, fitted him to "act well his part," in those public stations, he was after- wards called to fill.
His dignity, urbanity and tact, made him a good presiding officer. He was, consequently, frequently chosen to preside in town meetings, or on other public occasions. As select- man, he did much service. As representative in the state legislature, either of Wilton or Mason, he served more than twenty years. The office of justice of the peace he long held, and in it transacted much business. His papers were charac- terized by good penmanship, minute accuracy, and business- like execution.
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HISTORY OF MASON.
In politics, he was a whig, and hence, though the choice of his party, the higher offices of the county and state were closed against him.
As a citizen and a man, he always stood in his lot, meeting the wants of society, with a liberal spirit and a generous hand. He was a kind husband, a tender father, and an oblig- ing neighbor. He died of an affection of the heart, March 25, 1848, aged sixty-four years.
DR. OLIVER SCRIPTURE, a physician and surgeon, the son of Oliver Scripture and Jane, his wife, was born in Mason, June 16, 1783. He married Eliza, the youngest daughter of the Hon. Timothy Farrar. He settled in Hollis, N. H., where he now resides. It was in his family that Judge Farrar passed the closing years of his life, and there he died, February 21, 1849, aged 101 years, 7 months and 12 days.
LIEUT. JOHN SWALLOW, was the eldest son of John Swallow and Deborah, his first wife. He was born in Groton, Febru- ary 22, 1729-30. His father removed to Dunstable, Mass., about the year 1750. While residing in his father's family, at Dunstable, he commenced clearing up his farm. His lot was No. 6, R. 6, now owned and occupied by his son-in-law, Dea. S. Withington, and his grandson, Luke Newell. Here he com- menced his farm, probably in 1751. In 1752, he is reported as follows : "John Swallow, cleared about one acre, and got some timber for a house." At that time, there was no road from Dunstable to No. 1. He would start on Monday morn- ing, from his father's, with a pack load of provisions on his back, and, finding his way by marked trees to his clearing, he would fill the forest echoes with lusty blows of his ax, from sun to sun, till his stock of provisions was exhausted, and then starting a few hours before sun set, he would wend his solitary way through the forest, twenty two miles to his Dun- stable home, to replenish his stock, and, after a brief resting,
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would again renew his journey and his labors. Thus he sub- dued the forest, built his log cabin, and set up his household. In this log cabin, a house of one small room, he lived till after the birth of his eleventh child, when he removed into the two story framed house now standing, in which he spent the remainder of his life, extended to the good old age of 86 years. He never knew what it was to be sick, or ever tasted of any thing called medicine, until past his 75th year. His death was occasioned by a fall and broken bone, the pain of which wore out his life, November 23, 1815. He was twice married. His first wife was Sarah, daughter of Ens. Enosh Lawrence, the second, Mary, daughter of Dea. Nathan Hall.
DEA. ROGERS WESTON, was born in Billerica, Mass., Sep- tember 30, 1757. His father was Samuel Weston, born in Reading, Mass., in 1722. He was a descendant of John Weston, who was married to Sarah Fitch, April 18, 1653. Dea. Weston was an inhabitant of Mason as early as 1780. He began his farm on the lot where his son Rogers Weston now lives. He married, (1) Deborah Lawrence, daughter of Ens. Enosh Lawrence, April 12, 1785. She died, October 20, 1798. (2) Anna Frost, of West Cambridge, Mass., Decem- ber, 1799. She died September 30, 1829. (3) Rebecca Keyes, of Townsend, in 1830. She died August 15, 1830. (4) Mrs. Lydia Buttrick, of Pepperell, in 1831. She died March 13, 1837. (5) Mrs. Betsey Wright, of Brookline, who survived him. He died March 9, 1843, aged 85 years, 5 months, 9 days. Dea. Weston was an industrious, frugal and successful farmer. He was an active and ardent politician, and for many years the leader of the democratic, or, as it was then called, the republican party in the town, a firm supporter of the policy and administrations of Jefferson and Madison, and, as such, was elected to represent his town five years in the legislature. He was appointed a justice of the peace in 1808, and held the office till his death.
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HISTORY OF MASON.
COL. JAMES WOOD, became a resident in Mason, about the year 1780. His father, Ens. John Wood, removed to Mason, with his family, in 1778. Their ancestor, William Wood, was born in England, in 1582. He settled at Concord, Mass., in 1638, where he died, May 4, 1671, at the age of 89 years. Ens. John Wood was born in Concord. He died at Mason, December 9, 1785. Col. James Wood, came from Leominster, Mass., to Mason. He was a cabinet maker by trade, and worked at that business through life. He built the house where Oliver Allen now lives, a view of which is here pre- sented. Ile was of a generous, liberal disposition, his hand
RESIDENCE OF COL. JAMES WOOD.
and heart were always open to the call of friendship, or to the claims of the indigent and distressed; always ready, to the full measure of his ability, to aid in every good word and work, he was popular in his manners and well esteemed by all his fellow citizens. He was, in politics, a federalist of the old school, and, for many years, the leading man of his party in town. He was the representative of the town five years in succession, commencing in the year 1800, and was again
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elected in 1809, making, in all, six years. He served as one of the selectmen seven years. He had a taste for mili- tary affairs, in which he held office from the lowest grade up to that of colonel. He was, also, in office for many years as a justice of the peace. His character, as a townsman, a neighbor, a christian and a public officer, was without blemish. No man ever lived in the town who was more universally and more deservedly beloved. He died, July 31, 1838, at the age of 83 years.
REV. WILLIAM OLMSTED, was born at Westchester, a parish or society in Colchester, Conn., January 5, 1821. His parents were Zachariah and Elizabeth Olmsted. They were both pious, and earnestly desired that William, the youngest of eight children, might be a minister. His father dying when he was eleven years old, he was left to the guardianship of his elder brothers. He is represented as a slender, quiet, home loving boy, who preferred the society of his sisters, to the harsh, out-door amusements, boys generally love. His early youth was chiefly spent at school. At the age of sixteen years, lie was placed as clerk in a store at East Haddam. It was at this place, during a revival of religion, that he was converted and united with the church. Here he probably remained till he was of age. He next engaged as a clerk in a dry goods store at Hartford. Being taken sick shortly after, he changed his plans for future life, and resolved on pre- paring for the ministry. Everything afterwards was made subsidiary to this purpose. When sufficiently recovered, he entered Williston Seminary, where he remained till August, 1844. During vacation, he was examined and admitted a member of Yale College. But his health being delicate, by advice of friends, he abandoned the idea of a college course and commenced at once theological studies. His first year was passed at East Windsor, the two last at Union Theolog- ical Seminary, at New York. He graduated in 1847. A soci- ety in Brooklyn, N. Y., secured his services for one year, and
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HISTORY OF MASON.
wished to retain him longer. Thinking his health might be better in the country, he came to Mason village in the fall of 1848, and was ordained there, April 11, 1849. In May, 1852, with health slightly impaired, he left his people to attend the anniversaries at New York. On his return, he stopped for a few days with his friends in Connecticut, fell sick and died in his native town, and among his kindred, June 6, 1852. Agreeably to his dying request, "bury me among my beloved people," his remains were interred in the graveyard at Mason village. The marble which marks his resting place bears this inscription, indicated by himself: "I shall be satisfied when I awake in thy likeness."
To speak of Mr. Olmsted as he still lives in the hearts of his "little flock," might be thought flattery. But the mem- ory of the good should be blessed; fragrance should exhale from the tomb of earth's benefactors. In person, he was tall and slender, seeming to want that muscular propor- tion and physical symmetry so necessary to active endurance, and which, in many cases, early out-door exercise and bodily labor only can impart. His eye was dark and penetrating, the whole countenance intellectual and benignent in expres- sion. Alas, that so many of earth's gifted ones should perish ere they are ripe, from this unequal development-this dis- proportion between the brain and its animal machinery ! His style, as a writer, was chaste and graphic, and his manner 01 speaking was peculiarly his own, animated, impressive and winning. His power, as a public speaker, seemed to be derived mainly from his knowledge of human character and his sympathy with and ready adaptation to the wants and the minds of men. An intimate friend and room mate thus speaks of him : "For his age, he had the best knowledge of human nature of any one I have ever met. He had a faculty of keen and close observation of the thoughts and motives of men, which was truly wonderful. He saw at a glance, he moved instantly, he made it plain to all. His end was the ministry, and he carried the direct aim of all true business
Ff Oakley's inh 20" Wash" St Boston
REV. WILLIAM OLMSTED.
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life into his studies. The study of Latin and Greek classics had no charm for him; it seemed like drudgery; but he trained himself by a thorough course of mental philosophy, and delighted in the investigation of every question which bore upon his great object. He was eminently conscientious. In all my acquaintance with him, I cannot recall a single word or act, which could throw the least discredit upon his Christian character."
Mr. Olmsted was social in his habits, decided in his opin- ions, and bold and fearless in their advocacy. He took a deep interest in public improvements, and whatever promoted the general welfare. The erection, during his ministry, of the church edifice for the Congregational society in the village, was greatly aided by his influence and example. A sermon from Jeremiah 7:18, "The children gather wood, and the fathers kindle the fire, and the women knead their dough, to make cakes to the queen of heaven," was preached by him in promotion of this object, and was a happy specimen of the writer's tact and genius. His brief life with his people, abounds with pleasant reminiscences.
JAMES TAFT, was born in Uxbridge, Mass., June 13, 1780. In 1796, he commenced his services as an apprentice to learn the tanner's trade, at Petersham. In 1802, he established himself at New Ipswich, in the business of a tanner. His tan yard was that commenced in 1787, by Jeremiah Pritchard, at the foot of the hill south of the old burying ground. He built the house lately occupied by Mrs. Clary. He commenced business in company with Roger Chandler and Henry Isaacs, in 1812, and removed to Mason village. This company built the first cotton factories in the village, and for several years made the spinning of cotton yarn their principal business, and some years after they introduced machinery for weaving cotton cloths. In the spring of 1837, he commenced busi- ness as a merchant, and continued in it until his death, March 3, 1856.
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HISTORY OF MASON.
RESIDENCE OF JAMES TAFT.
In 1805, Mr. Taft married Hannah Proctor. His only daughter, Mary, died June, 1828, aged 22 years. His three sons, Albert, George and James, survive him, and all reside in the village. He served many years as one of the selectmen.
RESIDENCE OF GEORGE TAFT, ESQ.
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
CAPT. THOMAS TARBELL, was one of the original proprie- tors of No. 1, and named as such in the grant of the Masonian proprictors. He was one of the first settlers, was elerk of the proprietary, first chosen in 1762, and continued in office till the last meeting of that body, in 1773, and was one of the most active and leading men in all affairs of the township prior to the incorporation. Six of his sons settled on farms near him. He was a native of Groton. Thomas Tarbell, his aneestor, was one of the original proprietors of Groton in 1661. In the list are the names of Thomas Tarbell, Sen. and Thomas Tarbell, Jr. There were so many of the name of Thomas, that it is difficult to trace them all to Thomas, Sen., from whom, undoubtedly, they all descended. One Thomas was town elerk in Groton in 1704-'5, another from 1731 to 1733, another from 1745 to 1756, inclusive. The extracts
from Capt. Tarbell's records, as clerk of the proprietors, on pages from 47 to 54, show that his notions of orthography were peculiar and unique. The following specimen, from a record of his aneestor, Thomas Tarbell, town elerk of Groton, will show that he could plead ancestral example in excuse for the liberties he took with the syllables of the language :
grotton march 8 1704
at a legul townmeeting the town did yot that they wul met for the futur to chus town offesurs the fust tusday of march annuelly thomas tarbell clark
The name of Tarbell is very rare in this country. It does not appear in the long list of those who took the freeman's oath before 1669, nor does Farmer, in his Genealogical Reg- ister mention any of the name except Thomas, Sen., and Thomas, Jr. It is from these that all of the name in Massa- chusetts and New Hampshire are descended. There is one romantic incident in the history of the family thus related in Butler's Groton, page 96, in the chapter relating to the suffer- ings of that town in the Indian wars. He says :
Besides these instances of alarm, attack and suffering from a savage foe, others are known to have occurred, of which there is
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HISTORY OF MASON.
more or less authentic evidence. One, of which the tradition is undoubtedly nearly correct, is that of two lads, John Tarbell and Zachariah Tarbell, brothers, and sons of Thomas Tarbell, who were taken and carried to Canada. The story runs thus. One evening, a little after sunsetting, the Indians came suddenly upon the inmates of a garrisoned house, which stood where the Rev. Mr. Sanderson's house now stands, or near that spot. They all escaped and got safely into the garrison, except these boys, who being on a cherry tree, had not sufficient time to descend and save themselves from captivity. The precise time of this event is not known, but it is said Zachariah was so young, that he entirely lost his native lan- guage, and the records of Groton show, that John was born July 6, 1695, and Zachariah January 25, 1700. So it was probably between 1704 and 1708. Some years after, they both came to Groton on a visit, but having become accustomed to savage life, no persuasion prevailed on them to return and live with their friends and relatives. The present inhabitants of that name are their collateral kindred. Their descendants are still among the Indians in Canada.
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APPENDIX.
NOTE TO PAGE 45.
EXTRACT FROM A JOURNAL OF JOSEPHI HOLT, OF WILTON, N. H., "OF THE MARCH OF CAPT. EBEN'R JONES' COMPANY, IN THIE EXPEDITION TO CANADA," IN I758.
JOSEPH HOLT, probably of Andover, Mass., and who resided many years at Wilton, N. H., was a soldier in the French war of 1758. He kept a journal, from day to day, from the time he left home, May 24, 1758, to October 24. This journal was recently found in the possession of a gentleman in the city of New York, and copied and forwarded for publication in the New England Historical and Genealogical Register, by Fred- eric Kidder, Esq., a gentleman to whom all who feel any interest in the past history of New Ipswich and its vicinity are greatly indebted. It is published in full, in vol. 10, pp. 307-310 of the Register. The following extract from this journal will be of interest to many in the town of Mason and the vicinity :
July 20. A terrible day as ever I saw. Early in the morning, as a party of ten men were comeing down from ye Lake, the enemy fired upon them, and killed & took all but one; sundry officers and men, to the number of about thirty, sallied to the assistance of the scout, & many others directly followed; the enemy exceeding our number, they run upon us and beat us off, & killed 6 commissioned officers, & took and killed many others, a list of which follows : Captains Samuel Dakin of Sudbury, Ebenezer Jones of Wilmington, Thomas Lawrence of Groton, all killed : Lieutenants Samuel Curtis of Sudbury, of Capt. Dakin's company - Simon Godfrey of Billerica, of Capt. Jones' Co .; Ensign Daniel Davis of Methuen, of Capt. Foster's Co .; Sergant Peter Russell of Concord, of Capt. Fletcher's Co .- all killed. Sergant Wright of Westford, of Capt. Lawrence's
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Co., missing. John Bateman of Concord, Abner Keys of Billerica, Bill Eaton of do., all of Capt. Fletcher's Co., killed. Corporal Gould of No. 1, [now Mason, N. H.], Eleazer Ames of Groton, Abel Saw- telle & Stephen Foster of do., Simon Wheeler and Joel Crosby of Westford, all belonging to Capt. Lawrence's Co., killed. Joshua Newton of South Berwick, missing. Isaac Little of Dedham, William Grout of Sudbury, Jonathan Patterson & Nathaniel Moul- ton of do., belonging to Capt. Dakin's Co., missing. David Payson of Rowley, killed. Caleb Kimball of Ipswich, Moses Hagget of Andover, killed. William Coggin of Wilmington, wounded. Abra- ham Harding of Pennycook, of Capt. Foster's Co., killed. 21st. We went out with a party of 200 men to reconnoitre the woods and ground where our yesterday's battle was, and to seek for missing men; we found 4 dead, and also the enemy's lurking place; P. M., I went up to the lake to take care of the sick we left there; Moses Hagget died of his wounds.
NOTE TO PAGE 42.
For many years after the settlement of Mason was com- menced, the inhabitants were dependent upon the neighboring clergy for such religious services as their exigencies required, except as they were, from time to time, temporarily supplied by candidates and preachers hired for short terms. This state of things continued for twenty years or more. The neighboring clergy, at that time, were the Rev. Caleb Trow- bridge, of Groton, H. C., 1710, ordained at Groton, March 2, 1714-15, died September 9, 1760; the Rev. Phinehas Hemen- way, of Townsend, H. C., 1730, ordained at Townsend, Octo- ber, 1734, died May, 1760; the Rev. Daniel Emerson, of Hol- lis, H. C., 1739, ordained at Hollis, April 20, 1743, died Sep- tember 30, 1801; the Rev. Jos. Emerson, of Pepperell, H. C., 1743, ordained at Pepperell, February 26, 1746-47, died Oct. 29, 1775, and the Rev. Stephen Farrar, H. C., 1755, ordained at New Ipswich, October 22, 1760, died June 23, 1809. Of these, the nearest, in point of distance, was the Rev. Mr. Hemenway. He received a call to settle in Townsend in 1734. His acceptance is dated July 22, 1734. The time for his ordination was, by vote of the town, the third Wednesday of October. Under date of July 12, 1734, is recorded the vote of the town, that Mr. Hemenway's " stated annual salary shall
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altar in proportion as the valle of silver shall alter with the goldsmiths and merchants in Boston, as silver money at 25s. per ounce." His stated salary was £60, half yearly. In 1740, the town raised £200 for Mr. Hemenway's salary, in 1741, £140 16s. 8d., in 1742, £180. For subsequent years till 1753, no entry is made. Probably the salary of £120 remained unchanged. In that year, the town, May 28,
Voted, To raise one hundred pounds, old tenor, for Mr. Hemen- way, this present year, it being for his great sickness and lameness the year past, and for the great Cearcity of provisions the present year.
Voted, That the money be paid in labor, grain, meat, butter, cheese, wool, flax, &c., or else in cash, before the last day of January next.
Mr. Hemenway died in May, 1760. On the 2d day of June the town
Voted, To pay all the charges that has already arisen for the Rev. Mr. Hemenway's funeral, which sum is £102 16s. 8d., old tenor.
September 16, 1760, the town
Voted. That the Rev. Mr. Hemenway's salary shall run on six weeks after his decease, provided Madam Hemenway will give the town the boarding of the bearers the six days they preached, and all the board at the fast, and be entirely easy with the same.
It was the custom of that age for the town to pay the expenses of the funeral of the minister, the amount of which, in some instances, might now be thought extravagant. The neighboring ministers officiated as pall bearers, and it was the rule for each of the bearers to give one Sunday's preaching and services to the bereaved parish and church, and it is to this custom that allusion is made in this condition of the town's vote to continue Mr. Hemenway's salary six weeks after his decease.
In October following, the town "chose Mr. Samuel Dix to be their pastor and gospel minister, by a unanimous voat," at a salary of £66 13s. 4d. Mrs. Hemenway did not remain long in widowhood, for in the record of marriages by Mr. Dix,
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under date of October 20, 1761, is the marriage of Mr. David Taylor, of Concord, and Mrs. Sarah Hemenway.
NOTE TO PAGE 102.
Congregational singing, that is, the singing of psalms and hymns in metre, by the congregation in the public worship, was a custom revived in the churches, at the time of the reformation, it having been banished by the Romanists from their worship. This service was highly prized by our pilgrim ancestors. But among the singers, although their purpose was to cultivate harmony of voices, there was not always found harmony of temper. Sometimes bitter heartburnings and controversies arose among them. This was especially the case, when attempts were made to introduce new modes, new music and instruments. The organ was looked upon as a box of whistles, the violin as a profane and ungodly instrument, and even the solid base viol was regarded as no better than one of the bulls of Bashan. One of the most amusing cases illustrating this characteristic of our fathers, is found in the memorial of Joseph Hawley, presented to the general assem- bly of Connecticut, in 1725, literally copied as below, from the New England Historical and Genealogical Register, vol. 10, p. 311 :
To the Honourable ye General Assembly at hartford ye 18th of may 1725.
the memorial of Joseph Hawley one of ye house of Representa- tives humbly sheweth your Memorialist his father and Grandfather & ye whole Church & people of farmingtown have used to worship God by singing psalms to his praise In yt mode called ye Old way.
however t'other Day Jonathan Smith & one Stanly Got a book & pretended to sing more regularly & so made Great disturbance In ye worship of God for ye people could not follow ye mode of sing- ing. at Length t'was moved to ye church whither to admit ye new way or no, who agreed to suspend it at least for a year.
yet Deacon hart ye Chorister one Sabbath day In setting ye psalm attempted to sing Bella tune-and yor memorialist being used to ye old way as aforesd did not know bellum tune from pax tune, and sup- posed ye deacon had aimed at Cambridge short tune, and set it wrong, whereupon yr petitioner Raised his Voice in ye sd short tune & ye
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people followed him, except ye sª Smith & Stanly, & ye few who Sang allowd In bella tune ; & so there was an unhappy Discord in ye Singing, as there has often bin since ye new singers set up, and je Blame was all Imputed to yor poor petion[er]. and Jnº Hooker, Esqr assistant, sent for him, & fined him ye 19th of febry Last for breach of Sabbath, and so yor poor petition" is Layed under a very heavie Scandal & Reproach & Rendered vile & prophane for what he did in ye fear of God, & in ye mode he had bin well educated in and was then ye setled manner of Singing by ye agreemt of ye Church.
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