USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > Peterborough > History of the town of Peterborough, Hillsborough county, New Hampshire > Part 17
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The other river is the Nubanusit, situate in the north- westerly part of the town, running in a south-easterly direc- tion till it makes its junction with the Contoocook in the vil- lage. It has its rise from two sources. One branch (the north) flows from Long Pond in Harrisville, which receives as a tributary the stream used in all the manufactories of that town. This pond is used as a reservoir for the large facto- ries in Peterborough, and enables them in times of low water or a drought to keep their mills in motion. Barker's paper- mill is on this branch, a short distance above its junction with the other branch of this river.
The other branch of the Nubanusit flows from Thorndike's
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HISTORY OF PETERBOROUGH.
or Bullard's Pond, in the north-west part of Jaffrey, at the foot of the Monadnock, through the south part of Dublin, and unites with the Harrisville branch in the Spring Meadows above West Peterborough, as mentioned before. This river is now called Nubanusit (meaning little waters), from the Indian name of that portion of the "Town Line Brook" which flows through the meadows and flat lands east and south of the Dudley Chapman place, now occupied by Joseph McCoy, the lower part of the same stream being called "Hill's River." The name, long since disused, is now applied to this stream as a beautiful, euphonious Indian title that should by all means be retained in town. It is absolutely certain, from the old plan of the town, that the name of Goose Brook, which has prevailed about eighty years, was wholly unknown to the orig- inal settlers. It was probably adopted near the end of the last century, from the accident that the poultry-yard of Asa Evans stood on its banks, and his geese were constantly seen on its waters. This is a sure and never-failing stream, and " is well adapted to the various purposes for which it is used. The principal manufactories in town are located on it,-the Union Manufacturing Co., Adams & Nay's paper-mill, and Briggs' manufactory, at West Peterborough; and in the Cen- tral Village, Felt's machine-shop, first Peterborough cotton factory, Phoenix Factory, and Farrar's shop. If the river has grown somewhat less from natural causes than formerly, it is yet of sufficient power for all needed purposes.
Turner's Brook rises in the south-east part of Dublin, runs through a corner of Jaffrey, then across the south-west part of Peterborough, and enters the Contoocook a little below Bacon's mills in Jaffrey.
The Mace Brook, called on the old map Gridley's River, rises in the south-east part of Sharon, and has been and is now improved for saw-mills in its course; and enters the Con- toocook on the east side, about midway between the Turner and Town Line Brooks.
The Town Line Brook, called on the plans Hill's River, at its mouth rises near the notch of the mountain, on the south border of the town, and enters the Contoocook near Barker's Mill.
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The Cold Brook, called, unaccountably, on the plan Isle Slow Brook, for it has no island, and is not slow in its flow, is a small stream rising in Cold Springs, east of the Samuel Mor- ison house, and unites with the Wallace Brook in the White Meadow. Where it crosses the Mial Woods Road its waters are but a few inches deep; but they were deep enough to drown Lieut. Ephraim Smith (called Cady Smith), April 8, 1814, while intoxicated. His horse had stopped to drink ; the rider, falling into the water with his face downwards, was unable to turn himself over, and was found with the back of his head actually above the water !
The Wallace Brook has its rise in the swamps east of the Capt. W. Wilson farm, with a small stream from the Cuning- ham Pond, and running down past J. Milton Mears', it enters the Contoocook in the White Meadow, west of the Bleak house.
On this stream are the cranberry meadows of Felt & Nay, near its origin; and it supplied the power for William Powers' clothing-mill and Moses Chapman's furniture-shop, situated near Mears' house. It is now used for some mechanical pur- pose by A. Z. Fuller, near where the stream crosses the Tem- ple road; and a few years ago a saw-mill was erected west of this, where for a time much sawing was done.
The Bogle Brook has its source in a small pond on the East Mountain, and furnishes the water-power for John D. Diamond's mill, and was formerly used for a saw-mill by James Howe, and runs in a north-westerly direction, past the house of John Ramsey, to its junction with the Contoocook.
The Otter River, so called, is a brook that is used for the Holmes Mills near the Greenfield line, and Russell's saw- mill, and enters the Contoocook near the north line of the town.
A small stream passing through the Moore Meadows and entering the north branch of the Nubanusit is called Beaver River.
There are but two ponds in town, one of these being very small. There is a collection of water covering an area of eight or nine acres, high up on the East Mountain, some four
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or five hundred feet above the village, situated just north of the highest peak of these mountains, and some sixty rods or so from the east line between Peterborough and Temple. We are not aware that it has ever yet had any name. It is pure water, with sandy shores all round it, and said to abound with fish. Cuningham Pond is also situated in the east part of the town, consisting of about forty acres. It is said to have had no fish formerly; is pure, clear water, furnishing in abundance the best ice for summer use, and in a dry season it has no visible outlet.
Among the arboreal products are the ash, three kinds, white, red, and black; beech; birch, four kinds, black, white, yellow, and gray; basswood or linden; cherry-tree, black and red; elm, fir, hemlock, hornbeam, juniper, red oak, moose- wood, white pine, spruce, sycamore, poplar, rock or sugar maple, white maple, butternut, and witch elm. White oak, hickory, and pitch pine are not found here. The beautiful mountain ash is found on some of the hills.
WILD FRUITS .- The wild fruits are the upright blackberry, raspberry, blueberry, high and low, checkerberry, strawberry, and in some spots the black huckleberry and cranberry. The high and low blueberries are tolerably abundant in various places in town; and the high blackberries often yield a plenti- ful supply, are much used, and constitute a healthful fruit. Native strawberries are much less abundant than in former days, when the land was first cultivated. Raspberries are often found by the sides of the travelled roads and their fra- grance is grateful.
WILD ANIMALS .- The moose, the largest wild animal in this part of the country, was killed in town as late as 1760.
Deer were often taken by the first settlers. Three were in town a part of the winter of 1809, and one passed through town in 1823.
Beavers were taken in town after the commencement of the settlement. Maj. Heald, of Temple, took several in Sharon. The last of the family left a leg in his trap, and
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was taken by Mr. Taggart, of Dublin, more than twenty years after, about 1790.
Wolves were mischievous. In June, 1783, they destroyed about fifty sheep in one night, belonging to Capt. Thomas Morison and his son, Samuel Morison.
Bears were somewhat plenty. In 1801 one did damage in the cornfield of Samuel Smith, Esq. It passed through the village, and was not killed.
Wild-cats were here early, but how lately is not known.
The following wild animals are supposed to be in town at the present time: the yellow fox; raccoon; rabbit; skunk ; woodchuck ; squirrels, gray, red, striped; weazel; hedgehog or porcupine ; otter, though exceedingly scarce (one was killed in 1826, and another taken by Mr. Barker near his mill in 1869); the muskrat; the mink.
River fish were very common and easily taken in the early settlement. They have now nearly disappeared. Salmon were plenty in town before the dams were built across the Contoocook. They were frequently taken, from 1793 to 1799.
INSECTS. - A new enemy to the success of our farmers has of late years appeared. Insects, though small in size, often become formidable by their numbers. Dr. Harris, some years since, published a treatise on some of the insects of New England which are injurious to vegetation. It should be in the hands of every farmer. Their destructive power is far greater than that of crows and foxes, for the heads of which the State has sometimes offered a bounty. It is said that * within the limits of Dublin more than two thousand different species of insects have been collected. Many more would be discovered by further investigation.
There has been here the usual variety of birds, as in other towns in the vicinity; but with the destruction of our forests , however, there has been a great diminution of them. The wild turkey was found early in the settlement. The partridge and
* History of Dublin, p. 120.
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HISTORY OF PETERBOROUGH.
squirrel yet remain. The harmless, insect-destroying birds are much less numerous than formerly, and our vegetation has suffered much in consequence.
PUTNAM GROVE. - This grove is situated on the right bank of the Nubanusit and the west side of Grove Street, as you cross the stream to the south; by Farrar's shop. It consists of two and three-quarters acres of land, and is yet covered with its primitive trees. It is in the form of an amphitheatre from the river, which makes it exceedingly convenient for all great gatherings, especially where there is to be any out-door speaking. It has already proved a great comfort and conven- ience to the inhabitants of the town. It is set apart, for all time to come, for public gatherings, picnics, fourth of July meetings, etc. It is an evidence of the far-seeing sagacity, as well as munificence, of the donor; and her bounty will reach future generations, as the site is never to be appropriated to any other use than that of a public grove.
This grove was presented to the town at its annual meet- ing, March 1I, 1862, by Miss Catharine Putnam, when the following vote was passed: "Voted, That a vote of thanks be presented to Miss Catharine Putnam for her very munificent gift of the grove to the town." After the presentation and acceptance of the grove, and before her decease, she expressed a wish that it might be called Putnam Grove. The following vote was passed at a town meeting held Aug. 12, 1862: On motion of George A. Ramsdell, Esq., by the request of the late Miss Catharine Putnam, "Voted, That the grove lot be hereafter known by the name of the 'Putnam Grove.'"
Miss Catharine Putnam, of Boston, the donor of the grove, was a lady of great wealth, and of unusual mental and moral endowments. In consequence of failing health in the city, she removed to town some years before her death; and, find- ing her health much improved, she made Peterborough her residence for the remainder of her life. She was constantly striving to do good to others, by her free and liberal gifts to persons of every class who were needy, by her personal atten- tion to the sick, her sympathy to all in trouble, and by the
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TOPOGRAPHY.
constant exercise of all the amenities of life. She was as eminently good as she was cultivated and refined. No dim- · ness came over her path in her advanced age; old age was hardly perceptible in her. She died suddenly of a heart affection, without experiencing any sickness, and with hardly any premonition of the event. She died at Peterborough, March 27, 1862, aged eighty-four, and was buried at Mount Auburn, Mass.
The town has surrounded the grove with a substantial picket fence, and put up suitable gates and stiles for en- trances, and smoothed and graded the ground for use.
The soldiers' monument is placed on the west side of the grove.
CHAPTER XIX.
CEMETERIES AND BURIALS.
Three Cemeteries in Town. - The Little Cemetery. - Old Cemetery. - First Burials in It. - Gravestones Neglected. - Village Cemetery, 1833, with Two Acres. - Its Gravestones and Monuments. - Pine Hill Cemetery, Purchased 1867, Dedicated July 4, 1869. - First Burials in Town. - Customs at Funerals. - First Hearse, 1802. - Second Hearse in 1868. - A Sexton Appointed by Town.
THREE cemeteries have been established in town since its settlement, viz. : the Old Cemetery, the Village Cemetery, and the Pine Hill Cemetery. The Old Cemetery has long since ceased to be used, and the second, the Village Cem- etery, is now used only as families have lots in the same; the general place of burial being the Pine Hill Cemetery. In addition to the above, a few burials were made in a little graveyard on the meeting-house hill. This was probably laid out just after the first meeting-house was built, in 1752. It seemed the intention of the early settlers to have the graveyard just behind the church; and a few burials were made here. William Stuart, the first person who died in town, March 15, 1753, aged thirty-three years, was buried here, and then five other burials (which have stones) took place, and a few mounds and head-stones indicate a few graves beside. But the ground vas found so full of rocks, and so hard, that it was impossible to dig graves, and this site was abandoned and a new location sought. A spot was selected near, situ- ated on the side of the hill, east of the meeting-house, of about one and a half acres, and walled in for this purpose,
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which is now known as the Old Cemetery. With our modern views of cemeteries, it had an exceedingly bad location ; it was on ground, the most of it, wholly unsuitable for the purposes of burial ; there was no order in the arrangement of the graves in the yard, only that the head was laid to the west. It was also too circumscribed, as though in this wide country, and where land was so cheap, a sufficient room could not be afforded for the final resting-place of our bodies without impinging on one another. The north side only of this yard was found suitable for graves, embracing but a little more than a half of the yard, while the remainder of it, in consequence of its rocks and ledges, was never occupied. So hardly an acre of ground constituted the burial-place of this town for more than eighty years, or through more than two generations. How such numbers were buried on such a small tract of land, and yet always room for more, is a mystery to us. Gravestones were not very common, in proportion to the number of deaths, and the graves soon became obliterated and gave space for new burials. In these times, very little attention was ever bestowed on cemeteries; they were sadly neglected, allowed to grow up with bushes and briars, to be overrun with cattle, and to become one of the most unsightly places in town. To narrow the precincts of man at death, when he requires so little space at the best, was a petty economy, a thoughtless act that should never have been tolerated.
The first burial in this yard was Samuel, son of Capt. Thomas and Mary Morison, died Dec. 22, 1754, aged one year ; and then burials occurred in 1757, '58, '60, '62, '64, and '66, and so on till 1834, when most of the burials ceased, upon the establishment of a new yard. These are some of the earliest burials in the Old Cemetery : Elizabeth, daughter of Alexander and Elizabeth Robbe, died Nov. 29, 1757, aged ten months; Jenny, daughter of William and Mary Ritchie, died Oct. 1, 1758, aged two years; Mary, wife of Deacon William McNee, died October, 1759, aged forty-eight years ; Hannah, wife of Samuel Todd, died November, 1760, aged thirty years, Samuel Todd, died March 30, 1765, aged thirty- nine years; Agnes, wife of James Brownlee, died March 17,
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HISTORY OF PETERBOROUGH.
1762, aged seventy-nine years ; Anna, daughter of Samuel Stin- son, died Jan. 7, 1764, aged two years; Robert Smith, died Jan. 14, 1766, aged eighty-five years. As for ornamentation of the early cemeteries, it was never dreamed of ; all agreed to let the graveyard be the most neglected of all places ; but little effu- sions of fancy and sometimes grim humor would eke out on the gravestones, in the grotesque figures of death and death's head, sometimes an angel with a trumpet, and the memorable inscriptions of "Moriendum est omnibus " and the " Memento mori" so common in these times. Little scraps of indifferent poetry were often applied to individuals, as much out of place as could well be imagined ; for instance, a rough, quarrelsome, and perhaps intemperate, person is lauded with all the choic- est and mildest of the Christian graces, the quotation being as devoid of taste as of propriety of application.
The early inscription on the stones began with the real matter of fact, "Here lies the body of - -"; the next step was, "Sacred to the memory of - -"; and later to the plain "Memory of -"; but subsequently with the plain " Mr. -," with the date of death and the age, and perhaps with some scrap of poetry or a Scripture quotation on the bottom of the stone. The early gravestones very scrupulously notice all the titles of the individual, and if he had none he was sure to have the plain Mr. applied to his name on his gravestone.
In proportion to the large number of burials, very few gravestones were erected, and all of these were of slate. Many families were very culpable in this respect. No doubt it was attended with a great trouble and expense in these times, and then to be served with an ordinary article at the best. But some of these stones show the durability of slate, even compared with the modern marble. They stand yet - a good, fair record, -after more than a hundred years of ex- posure to the elements.
VILLAGE CEMETERY. - The subject of a new graveyard began to be agitated and the matter was brought before the town at a legal meeting, April 10, 1832, by an article in the warrant (the warrant of this year not recorded on town
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books), "and a committee, consisting of Deacon Jonathan Smith, Hugh Miller, Moses Dodge, James Walker, John Steele, were chosen to take the subject of a new graveyard into consideration, as to the propriety of establishing one or more new ones or enlarging the old one and report at the next meeting." At the same meeting it was " Voted, to en- large the old burying-ground under the direction and superin- tendence of the selectmen."
At a meeting of the town, Nov. 5, 1832 (warrant not re- corded), on the third article of the warrant, " Heard the re- port of the committee, chosen at the last town meeting, on the subject of a graveyard, which was against enlarging the old graveyard and in favor of purchasing land of Samuel G. Smith (in the village), for a new one."
"Voted to accept the report ; and that the same committee be authorized to examine said ground, and if in their opinion it is suitable, to make a purchase of the same, and the select- men be authorized and directed to fence it in a suitable man- ner."
" Voted, that the same committee be directed to lay out the said ground in suitable lots, with proper space between each lot, and that the same be staked out with stone posts and numbered."
At a town meeting, April 9, 1833, on motion, "Voted to accept the report of the committee on the subject of the graveyard." At a meeting, April 8, 1834, on motion, "Voted, that the town take one acre of land on the north end of the new graveyard, and that the selectmen fence what part of it they think proper."
So the town started off in 1834 with their new cemetery, instituted for all time, of two acres of land, with an addition of an acre on the north end, which the selectmen were au- thorized to fence, if they thought proper, it being a side hill so abrupt and steep as never to admit of burials or any other use, only as a link in the world's continuity.
With the use of this cemetery, new ideas began to prevail here as well as elsewhere in regard to places of burial. More elegant and costly kinds of gravestones began to be common,
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HISTORY OF PETERBOROUGH.
the slate was entirely discarded and the best specimens of marble substituted. Each family now had their own lot, upon which, often, much was expended in ornamentation, · in grading the grounds, in iron fences or stone curbing. Very many expensive monuments of marble and granite were erected, which, together with trees, shrubbery, etc., make this cemetery altogether a beautiful and attractive place.
PINE HILL CEMETERY. - In 1866 and 1867 it was found that all the lots in the Village Cemetery had been taken up, and those, also, belonging to families who had left town with only one or two burials on a lot had been appropriated. It became a necessity then either to enlarge the yard or to select a new one. A committee was appointed at the annual meeting, 1867, to investigate the matter, consisting of Dr. Daniel B. Cutter, Riley B. Hatch, John N. Thayer, and Al- bert Frost, and report at a future meeting, not exceeding three months. This committee reported at a town meeting, held May 14, 1867. After examining the Village Cemetery, they reported against an enlargement. They say that "The land on the north and east was found hilly, some parts rocky, with deep ravines where water, at times, rushed with great power ; it is difficult of access, and could be used only by grading and terracing at much expense." And then on the south side, six rods only in width could be added, that would furnish seventy-two burial-lots the size of those in the pres- ent yard, and this at a great expense and serious damage to the property adjacent. Two locations were then specially ex- amined : one on land of Benjamin Buckminster and Watson Washburn, on the east side of the river and half a mile north of the Village Cemetery; the other on land on the Bailey Hills, so called, on the west side of the river, owned by Joseph H. Ames ; the latter of which the committee recom- mended, with two members of the same dissenting - one of the said committee and one of the board of selectmen, - who were in favor of the lot owned by Buckminster and Wash- burn. The report was accepted, but it was voted, "That it is the sense of this meeting that the cemetery be enlarged."
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This vote was reconsidered at a subsequent meeting, May 28, 1867, and at the same meeting the following action was had : " Voted, That the selectmen be authorized to purchase for the town, for a cemetery, land owned by Messrs. Buckminster and Washburn, or either of them; and that a committee of five be chosen to confer with the selectmen, and locate a cemetery as in their judgment they may think best; but that three-fourths of said committee and selectmen shall agree upon the location." "Albert S. Scott, John Smith, Joseph Noone, Charles Wilder, M. L. Morrison, were chosen said committee." The above committee, with the selectmen, it seems, agreed upon the location of a new cemetery on land of Messrs. Buckminster and Washburn. And a committee was chosen to make all due regulations in regard to the new yard, as to the laying it out in lots, the size of the lots, the price of the same, and give names to the avenues, paths, etc., as well as determine the name of the cemetery itself. They decided that it should be known by the name of the Pine Hill Cemetery.
The cemetery contains about forty acres, and is diversified with sufficient hill and dale. It has a large growth of pine, shrubs, and other kinds of trees to give great beauty and variety to the grounds.
After its adoption as a town cemetery, by the advice of the above committee, it was dedicated on Sunday P. M., July 4, 1869, in a hollow to the left as you enter the west gate. The attendance was very large and the services interesting. Rev. George Dustan delivered the dedicatory address .*
The yard has been enclosed with a neat picket fence by the town, and three gates of entrance have been erected at three different points, to accommodate the people and give easy access to the ground.
It is now, 1875, the general burial place for the town, ex- cept for those who have lots in the Village Cemetery, and friends buried there.
* The first burials in this yard were made in 1868, on Lot No. Three, and Rosa A. A., daughter of John C. and Ariannah A. Richardson, who died July 15, 1868, aged one year and six months, was the first person buried in the same.
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HISTORY OF PETERBOROUGH.
HEARSES, BURIALS .- It appears that in the early settlement of the town it was the custom, at funerals, to place the body on a bier, and to have it borne on the shoulders of the bearers to the grave, from every part of the town, and sometimes even from neighboring towns. It became a serious griev- ance to the community, and gave rise to the following article in the town warrant for a meeting, March 30, 1802 : -
" Article 10. To see if the town will vote to take into con- sideration the burden our young men bear in carrying the dead to the grave, and the utility of purchasing, at the town's expense, a horse carriage, or carriages, to carry the corpses to the grave, and also a set of suitable tools to dig the graves."
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