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 34
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gent feeling of your trouble; time will render the remem- brance less painful; but it is only God who can heal the wound, and repair the breach.
What can I now say to the brethren and sisters of the deceased ? what need I say ? The voice of God speaks to you loudly, and most intelligibly. A beloved brother has fallen in the prime of life, in the fulness of his strength. Your health, your strength, your prime of life, can no more secure you against the arrest of death. Dear friends, be entreated to listen to the voice of Providence, which calls you to attend to the concerns of your souls, without delay. And, O, listen to the dying request of your brother. Did you witness his anxiety for his own soul, and for your souls ? Did you hear his warning, supplicating voice, while his reason lasted, urging you to seck religion; to become reconciled to God without delay ? Did you hear him reprobate the senti- ment he had labored to believe, and warn you against it ? Did you hear him declare his full conviction of his own just condemnation as a sinner ; and that the only hope of escap- ing everlasting death was through the atoning blood of Christ, even by faith in him ? O, then, rely upon it, the time will come when the favor of God, peace in the soul, and hope like an anchor, sure and steadfast, will be found, by you, to be of more value than the whole world, and all the fulness thereof. When shall this be sought ? You may die suddenly, in the fulness of your strength. You may be deprived of reason before the close of life; and then nothing can be done to prepare for death. It is certain you must die, the time is unknown ; and when death has his commission to strike, he is inexorable. O then let not the plea be made in vain, acquaint now yourselves with GOD, and be at peace with him, that good may come to your souls.
On this solemn occasion the officers and soldiers composing the Militia Company of which the late HIRAM SMITH was Cap- tain, have a right to be particularly noticed in this address; for they are specially afflicted in this mournful event of
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Divine Providence ; for they are, indeed, mourners, as their appearance at his funeral, and on this holy day, clearly mani- fests.
How affecting, how alarming have been the calls of Provi- dence to this Company ! In the short space of one year and a half, two Captains, young and active, have been cut down, not by the sword of battle, but by that foe with whom each one, officer and soldier, must contend in single combat, and before whom cach one must fall.
You, respected officers and soldiers, notwithstanding the military parade you make, live in a time of profound peace in your country. There are no apparent indications that you may soon be called to active service. Why then all this mili- tary parade ? Why all these pains to learn the discipline and art of war ? O, methinks I hear you say, "It is the dic- tate of wisdom, in peace to prepare for war. It is uncertain how soon we may be called to defend by force and arms, our dearest rights, and jeopardize our lives in the high field of battle; and what then, if found unacquainted with the art of war, wholly unprepared, undisciplined, unarmed ?" Forcible reasoning ! O let it apply with all its aptness, with all its force, in another case. Here I may address you as fellow soldiers, although I am unacquainted with all your military manœuvres. Before us is a war in which there is no dis- charge ; no engagements, nor attachments, nor fears, can be an excuse. Here, is it not equally the dictate of wisdom, In peace prepare for war? that we should arm ourselves with that armor which will not fail in the day of battle; acquaint ourselves with the holy discipline, and become expert in the use of those arms ? When called to combat with the com- mon enemy, death, and all the innumerable foes of our souls' salvation, it is only when clad in the whole armor of God, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, the sword of the spirit, and the breast-plate of righteousness, that we can come off conquerors and more than conquerors. Thus armed and disciplined, we shall be crowned with victory,
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although the enemy shall seem to triumph. You now, fellow men, appear as soldiers. But are you soldiers of the cross ? are you marching in the ranks of the great Captain of salva- tion, and obeying his orders ? Then may you proceed boldly. But whatever leader you may follow, when you fall as you must, you fall to rise no more.
Hence, whenever you meet on military occasions, your very manœuvres are calculated to remind you of interesting truths, and to convey to you important instruction. And it seems strange that in a christian land, military meetings are not generally solemn meetings. Every word of command given, every manœuvre performed, every step marched to the music should remind you of the necessity of preparation for the great conflict, and of the danger of being untrained to the holy war. Can this Company meet again and trifle with the art of war ? Can a training be a season of rude merriment after this ? Can the soldiers, who see their officers fall before them, feel safe, until they have enlisted under the great Cap- tain of salvation, Jesus Christ, the same forever ? This day you see, you have painful evidence, that the art of war cannot defend from death. No more ean any other arts or devices. Your Captain was esteemed a good officer ; but he has fallen. Death did not respect him: no more will he respect you. Soldiers may inconsiderately brave death in the field of bat- tle ; but it is only the christian soldier who has true courage in the hour of danger, and can contemplate the constant approach of death without dismay. It is not courage, it is dreadful hardiness to jeopardize life fearlessly without the prevailing hope of a happy eternity.
Soldiers, you acknowledge Captain SMITH was a good officer. But you may rely upon it, for I had it from his own lips, he felt the worth of his immortal soul ; he acknowledged himself justly condemned as a sinner; with lively emotions he mourned his past neglects; and he was anxious for the salvation that is in Christ. Now will you not be anxious for salvation ? can concern for the soul be unbecoming a soldier ?
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To you, the surviving officers in this Company, this day must be a solemn day. Who can be the successor to your late Captain, and look back one year and a half, and not tremble ? Who can rise to a higher grade and not tremble ? But why speak of this ? Each one, whether he rise in rank or not, must bow to the king of terrors, and go to that world from which there is no return. Who, which of you, is prepared to follow next ? whose turn will it be next ? This is a question no man can answer. One in his full strength as likely as one who is diseased and feeble. O then, let me affectionately entreat you, and not entreat in vain, to take care of your souls. Now give yourselves to Christ. Delay no longer. Receive him as your commander; rely on his righteousness ; believe and obey his word. Then, and not till then, may you live in peace, die in peace, and be crowned with victory.
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THE SUBSTANCE OF TWO LECTURES
ON THE
HISTORY OF MASON,
DELIVERED BEFORE THE LYCEUM
IN MASON VILLAGE.
BY REV. EBENEZER HILL.
CORRESPONDENCE.
TO THE REV. EBENEZER HILL,
Dear Sir :- We, whose names are here subscribed, were appointed a com- mittee, to request a copy for publication, of your recent instructive and inter- esting discourse upon the early history of Mason, delivered before the Mason Village Lyceum. Desirous of preserving the history of the past, and admon- ished by your advanced age, that we cannot long hope to enjoy your society, we trust you will comply with our request.
Yours truly, GEORGE ELLIOT, THOMAS H. MARSHALL, D. F. RICHARDSON.
Mason Village, February 24, 1846.
To George Elliot, Esq., Dr. Thomas H. Marshall, and Rev. D. F. Richardson,
Gentlemen :- The request of the Lyceum, made through you, of a copy of the Lectures on the History of the Town, delivered last winter, I cannot refuse. Yet I am constrained to appreciate the request, rather as a mark of respect to old age, than as an evidence of merit in the performance.
Various hindrances have caused delay in examining facts, and in transcribing and preparing the copy. Such as it is, I cheerfully present it to you, and through you, Gentlemen, to the members of the Lyceum, with many warm wishes for the spiritual and temporal prosperity of the riseu and rising gen- eration.
Very respectfully your friend and humble servant,
Mason, May 1, 1846.
EBENEZER HILL.
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LECTURE.
MOST people take pleasure in reading history, and learning the events of ancient days. But when the history relates to scenes in which their immediate ancestors were concerned- to events which have a bearing on their own state and condi- tion, the interest deepens as they proceed.
Who will not find entertainment and profit in reading the history of England from its earliest period ? But as the time approaches when our forefathers were forced to leave their pleasant dwellings and their beloved country, and seek an asylum in a newly discovered continent, where they might enjoy civil and religious liberty, what man of common sensi- bility-certainly, what true American, is not moved more and more ? And is there even a scholar in our common schools, who can read the landing of the pilgrims on the rock in Ply- mouth, and the severe sufferings they had to endure, and the labors they had to perform, without feeling his heart beat quick within him ? But history, whether civil, ecclesiastical, or biographical, not only affords entertainment, but in a pleasing manner valuable instruction. Nor is it necessary that the history should abound in marvelous and wonder- stirring events, to render it pleasant and profitable.
Entertaining these views, I am led to believe that the his- tory of Mason may be thus useful to the present inhabitants of the town, and especially to the young people; and in com- pliance with a special request, I now attempt to present such
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facts relative to this town, and its early inhabitants, as I have been able to collect, from records which have come into my hands, and from conversation had with old people, almost all of whom are now-as we must shortly be-in the grave.
The land included in this town is part of a grant made to Captain John Mason, of London, by the king of England, and it appears from records that certain persons bought of John Tufton Mason, heir of John Mason, a tract of his said grant in New Hampshire, containing about 77 square miles, of which tract this town is a part.
At a meeting of these proprietors by purchase of Mason, held at Portsmouth, Joseph Blanchard, of Dunstable, was accredited their agent; and as such, in their name, by deed or charter, conveyed to a company, whose names are expressed in the instrument, a certain tract of land five miles square, which was the dimension and shape of this town in its original grant : but afterwards a strip of land containing 200 acres was taken from No. 2, now Wilton, and annexed to No. 1, so called; also when the Province line was run between Massachusetts and New Hampshire, a gore of land was cut off from Townsend, and annexed to Mason; so that it was no longer square, but wider from North to South than from East to West. The charter or deed was executed June 16, 1749 ; and the names of thirty-four men are inserted in the instrument as grantees ; most of whom, as far as I can judge by the names and other circumstances, were from the towns of Dunstable, Hollis, Groton, Pepperell and Townsend. This township, thus obtained, was designated No. 1, in the Province of New Hampshire, north or back of Townsend.
In the charter were certain reservations, which shew the regard, both grantors and grantees had for the education of the youth, and the moral and religious instruction of all, as well as for the comfort of the early settlers. For instance, two lots of land were reserved for encouragement to build mills ; six acres were reserved for a common, wherever the meeting house should be located. Three shares were
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reserved for other uses, viz : One share to the first settled minister; one share for the ministry from generation to gen- eration .* This right has been disposed of, and I say happily disposed of, (notwithstanding the good intentions of the grantors, and perhaps the illegality of the act,) for in this day it is not a bone of contention. A third share was reserved for the support of schools; and it is a matter of regret that this also is disposed of.
There were not only reservations, but also conditions in the charter. The first condition was that a meeting house should be built by the grantees, for the use of the inhabi- tants ; and built as near the centre, as by the grantees should be judged most convenient. The time for this to be done was limited to May, 1753. Such a house within about three rods north east of the now Old Meeting House, was erected, enclosed and covered, and little more ever done to it. Thus, it remained the place of worship, until after what is now called the Old Meeting House in the centre was occupied.t
Another condition in the charter was, that on some lot in each share, three acres should be cleared, enclosed, and fitted for mowing or tillage in two years from the date; and on each should be a house at least sixteen feet square, and seven feet or more studded, with a chimney and cellar, fitted for a dwelling, and some person or family inhabit it, before the last of May, 1752; and residence be continued until May, 1755.
The settlement of the town advanced slowly. Yet it appears from the report of a committee, appointed to ascer- tain who had not performed their duty, that in three years after the grant, twenty-three settlements had been begun- few had more than eight acres cleared, and the greatest clearing was twenty acres. Two good houses, one barn and
* Supposed to be three lots.
t This house was afterwards torn down ; and at the time the following incident took place, When the frame was all down except the four posts confined by the gallery sills, Amos Dakin was standing on one of these sills, when the remainder of the frame swayed and fell. He kept his place until almost to the ground, and then leaped and fell flat ; the timber just passed over him, and he received no injury.
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a young orchard were reported. What kind of houses, the first were, may be gathered from this circumstance, that Mr. Obadiah Parker's house was the first framed house in the town, perhaps the only one, at that time," and only two were called good. From which we may conclude that twenty-one ont of the twenty-three were made of round logs, or at best with square timber; but one of these log houses remains to this day.+
When the settlements were very few, instead of being compact, as might have been expected from the social nature of man, they were scattered to almost every part of the town. Enosh Lawrence, whose axe was first heard to resound in our forests, was from Pepperell, and began his settlement in the south part of the town, where Ephraim Hil- dreth now lives. His wife was the first white woman in the town, and lived to old age. Nathan Hall, known here as Deacon Hall, also from Pepperell, began next to Mr. Law- rence, and settled in the north part, where Joseph Saunders now lives. Obadiah Parker located himself on the west side of the town. There were only three women in the town, when Mrs. Parker left her relatives and friends in Chelms- ford, to accompany her husband into this wilderness, which was then considered as almost the far West. Thomas Tarbell settled in the east, where some of his descendants now live, and a Mr. Powers located in the extreme east. For a time the only place that appeared like a neighborhood was on the hill, where deacon Hall settled. Soon after him Henry Jefts began where Jonathan Batchelder lives; Nathan Fish where Ira Hall lately lived, and one Samuel Tarbell where Luther Nutting lives.
The character of the first settlers was that of plain, honest farmers. Most of them, in the common language of the world, were poor. Some of them had scarcely more than their clothes, their axe and a little provision. They were
* This is the old house on the place where Samuel Wheeler Weston now lives.
t The house in which Stephen Foster now resides.
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also men of little education, and their children suffered greatly for want of schooling.
Would our children and youth know how great their privi- leges are, and how to prize them, let them, in imagination, go back fifty or sixty years, and place themselves for a little time beside those of their age at that period. The children were then so widely scattered, that for a time it was imprac- ticable to form them into schools. The standard of educa- tion also was low. A man who could read plain reading, and cypher to the Rule of Three, was considered qualified to teach a common school. And even in the early days of your fathers, my young friends, when they went to school they had not a well constructed and comfortable school house. Most commonly they had a room in some private house, miserably fitted up with benches to sit on, and a kind of tottering table on which to write, and not unfrequently scarcely light enough to sec to read. Add to all this, they had very few books in schools or in families. In many places scholars seldom if ever heard in school of English Grammar, Geography, Natu- ral Philosophy, Mathematics, &c., which are studies now brought within the reach of almost every youth. If therefore the present generation do not exceed the preceding in useful learning, great blame must be attached to them.
Our forefathers, and mothers too, who subdued the wilder- ness before them, were a hardy and an industrious race. The prime object of their clothing was comfort, and their food was very uniform and plain.' Tea was not known among them in this early period. In summer, milk and bread was the food, especially of children, morning and evening; and in the winter, as a general thing, they had a good boiled dish for dinner, which laid the foundation for a supper, and for a breakfast next morning for the family. And I presume those early inhabitants of the town never heard of such a disease as dyspepsia. They were not distinguishingly subject to fevers ; and cases of consumption were very rare ; and where they did occur, they were slow in their progress-not unfre-
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quently did it take years to do the work, which consumption now sometimes performs in a few weeks. Also, when our hardy ancestors were going through the toil of subduing the wilderness, they did not have ardent spirits to cool them in the heat of labor, when toiling in the sun, or to warm them when buffeting the storms, or enduring the cold of winter.
Another trait in the character of the early settlers of No. 1, is to be distinctly noticed, or we shall injure them. Most of them were brought up where the holy Sabbath was regarded, and they were accustomed to hear the gospel preached. They did not, when removed far from the sanctu- ary, and from the ordinances of the gospel, feel as if this were a desired freedom. They not only made carly efforts, even before they were an incorporate body, to have occasional preaching, but they were desirous of having a minister settled among them ; and few and feeble as they were, they did not shrink from the effort on account of the expense. As early as 1753, the proprietors and inhabitants voted to allow sixty pounds (Old Tenor undoubtedly,) to pay for preaching, and from this time it appears they had preaching more or less every year.
Previous to this, they had voted to build a meeting house, agreed upon the dimensions, appointed a committee, and directed them "to enclose the house, lay the under floor, and build a convenient place for the minister to stand in to preach." This was an arduous undertaking considering their number, and especially that they had no mill, in which they could prepare materials for building from their own forests. But it was done. And having a house for worship, they were not satisfied with preaching part of the time. They voted to settle a minister as early as 1762, i. e., in thirteen years after the grant of the township. At the same time they gave a call to Mr. Ebenezer Champney, (the late Judge Champney, of New Ipswich,) to settle with them; and offered him as settlement "700 £ silver, O. T. £400 salary yearly, and a right of land." This was a generous offer considering their
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number and circumstances. I have named these sums more particularly for the benefit, or perhaps the amusement, of the young people, who may wish for some information respecting this Old Tenor, and its valuation.
The currency of our ancestors in New England was reck- oned in pounds, shillings and pence, and was called Old Tenor, in distinction from another valuation of the same denominations of money, called Lawful money, or sometimes New Tenor. Now although the same terms were used in both, their meaning, or valuation was widely different. The denomination in Old Tenor was just seven and a half times less in value, than the same in Lawful money. Hence to reduce Lawful money into Old Tenor is to multiply it by 73, and to reduce Old Tenor into Lawful money, divide by the same. Hence we see that the offer made to Mr. Champney was, in the present currency of the day, $311 12 cents settle- ment, and $177 78 cents salary .* Mr. Champney did not accept the call; nevertheless the people were not discouraged. In 1766, they gave a call to one James Parker, with an offer of £400 O. T., until there were eighty families, and then £450 until one hundred families, from which time the salary should be established at £500. This call was not accepted ; and it does not appear that any other like attempt was made, until an act of incorporation was obtained.
These hardy pioneers not only suffered many privations, but endured many severe hardships. Not the least of these was the labor of making roads, and for years the badness of traveling, where something was done to make a road. And until they could raise some grain on their new farms, all their bread stuffs, and most of their other provisions must be brought from the older settlements. The instance of hard- ship, which I am about to name, may be an extreme case, but it may help our young friends to form some idea of the suffer- ings incident to new settlers, especially to those, who are
* Thus £700 -:- 7}=£93, 6, 8 Lawful=$311 11-1- settlement. Again, £400 O. T .-:- by 7}= £53 6s. 8d. Lawful=to $177 78-1-cents.
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poor and destitute. Deacon Hall, who has been named, I have been informed, after having toiled all day on his farm, has in the night traveled on foot to Pepperell, and returned bringing a bag of meal on his shoulder for his hungry chil- dren ; and then labored the next day as usual.
Not the least of the sufferings, and the cause of continued suffering, arose from their ignorance of clearing wood land, by felling the trees and then burning the ground over. I have been told by some of them that for several years, the only method of clearing the forest was to chop the wood, draw it together, pile it, burn the heaps, and then break up the ground with the plough, or breaking-up hoe, before plant- ing or sowing. This accounts in some measure for the slow progress they at first made in clearing.
Again, the people suffered very much for years from want of mills. It was a primary object with the grantees and first settlers to have mills erected; and, as encouragement, mill seats were looked out, and land granted and contracts made, but I can find no evidence, of a mill of any description in the town before the year 1766 or 7. In the year 1767, I find an article in a warrant for a meeting of the proprietors, to see if they will accept the road by Thomas Barrett's mill, and build a bridge across Souhegan river, near said mill. It appears that Benjamin Bellows, Esq., contracted to build mills at this place, but did not fulfil his contract. And also that Thomas Barrett and Charles Barrett built mills in this place, and sold them to Amos Dakin, of Lincoln, Mass., who removed with his family into this town in the year 1768. At that time, seventy-eight years since, there was no opening in the dense forest, where this village now stands, except for the mill, and a spot cleared for a house. In 1767, Elias Elliot's mill was accepted by the proprietors. I have also evidence that not far from the same time, a mill was erected in the east part of the town, on the Ward place so called, where Mr. Bennet now lives.
Now think how much the people must have suffered who
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lived ten or fifteen years, where, if they raised any grain they must carry it to Townsend or Pepperell, and sometimes even to Groton, to have it made into meal; and although they had timber in abundance, they could not have a board, but it must come from another town. Yet they submitted to these inconveniences and hardships with cheerfulness, and perse- vered in labor, till they had prepared for the comfort of their children. .
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