USA > New Hampshire > Strafford County > Rochester > History of the town of Rochester, New Hampshire, from 1722 to 1890, Vol. I > Part 53
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On Saturday, 29th June last, Col. Evans sent again for said cannon, and likewise sent the above order. But as the same difficulty subsisted that there was at first (there being no person to give a receipt or rather security,) the cannon was not delivered.
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The Selectmen acquainted the Committee of Safety for said Town with their proceedings relative to the cannon. They justify our proceedings, yet thought the cannon ought to be carried where it would answer the best end, bnt yet thought our request for the value thereof not unreasonable.
We would herewith testify our readiness to obey all such orders as we shall receive from the Honorable House from time to time, as also our willingness with lives and fortunes to bear our proportional part in defending and securing to us the rights, liberties and privileges we are now contending for, &c.
We are, Sir, Yours, and the Honorable House's most Humble and Obedient servants.
JABEZ DAME, Selectmen
BARNABAS PALMER, of
WILLIAM ALLEN, Rochester.
Rochester, July 3, 1776."
From this time the town retained undisputed possession of this ancient relic of royalty. It is impossible to trace all its wander- ings, in which it seems to have experienced more than the usual vicissitudes of earthly affairs, - from the minister's to the tavern, -from scaring away "the barbarous Indian enemy, " to cele- brating with booming voice many anniversaries of national inde- pendence ;- used first by one political party and then the other to hurl notes of defiance to their foes; - ever faithful through good report and evil report; - until, like many a brave soldier, its existence was thrown away in a noble cause by the folly and recklessness of its commander.
Originally intended as an alarm gun to summon the people in the hour of danger during the Indian wars, it was kept at Parson Main's. It was afterwards moved to the Wolfe Tavern (p. 485), a place of no small renown, being not merely the only public house, but the only store, where not only accommodations for weary travelers but such necessities of life as rum and crockery- ware were dispensed to anxious customers. Here the old gun for a long time found hospitable shelter, where its powers of loud speaking were not over-tested by warlike youths.
Among the many episodes of its eventful history, we find the following: On the day the Electors were to meet in 1840, the Whigs arranged to fire a salute with the old gun. Knowing their political opponents would prevent it if possible, they stationed a guard around the place where the gun was kept the night before. But in spite of all precautions, some one was crafty enough to crawl into the house and spike the gun. But the work was so hastily done, that the spike was easily removed, and the last toast
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by which the day was celebrated was : - " The rat-tail file, - like all other loco-foco experiments, - a complete failure."
The cannon was exploded July 4, 1845, by William J. Roberts, William Hodgdon, and others. Its fragments found an inglorious burial among metal of less noble origin in the iron heaps of the foundry. The town had lost a time-honored friend, and there were many mourners.
At the next town meeting the selectmen were instructed to prosecute the individuals who had sold the old iron. There was a long and expensive lawsuit in which the town was finally de- feated by not being able to establish its ownership. This result seems to have been well deserved by the town for neglecting to care for so valuable a relic.
The town appears to have had no bills for the support of the poor until 1749. The first pauper was Richard Hammock, one of the original proprietors. Unwilling to acknowledge him as a public charge, after supporting him one year the town sued "the parish of Somersworth " for reimbursement. One item excepted, the bills in reference to Hammock's case were the whole town expenses for that year. As the town soon after refused to "hier " a schoolmaster, the orthography of the records at this time may be of interest to the reader. It was voted to build "a brig at Cosheco river at Norway Plains." And the Hammock account stands as follows : -
" To cash paid 2 lawyears 0- 4-19
to paid Squr. Gage for swairing everdances 0-7-6
to paid Squr. Millet for a jackets cloth 1-10-0 to paid Cornal Smith for acoppey of a warrant 0- 4 -- 0
0-3-0 to paid for making Richard Hammock a shurt to paying ye jury 0-13- 0
to treeting ye jury 0-5-0 0-15-9
to paid for entering our axion at cort Cash paid for an appel 0- 5- ("
The case was evidently lost on the first trial, but on the " appel " it appears that "treeting the jury" was attended with greater success, for no more bills were paid for Richard, and the town was credited with an execution against Somersworth. The amount, however, scarcely exceeded the expenses of the lawsuit, - a result not unknown in modern times. Many years passed before any other pauper was established on the town, for the selectmen were
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very prompt to " warn out " all poor persons before they could gain a residence.
The first census of the Colony of New Hampshire of which we have any record was in 1767. The returns from Rochester were as follows : -
Unmarried men from 16 to 60 years old,
86
Married men from 16 to 60 years old,
142
Boys 16 years and under, 257
Men 60 years and above,
26
Females unmarried,
280
married,
166
Widows,
22
Male slaves,
3
Female slaves,
2
Total,
984
The next census was ordered by Governor John Wentworth, in 1773, when Rochester made the following returns : -
Unmarried men from 16 to 60,
123
Married men from 16 to 60,
210
Boys '16 and under,
346
Men 60 and upwards,
26
Females unmarried,
437
married,
241
Widows,
34
Male slaves,
2
Female slaves,
1
Total,
1,420
Another census was taken in 1774, of which we have the fol- lowing Rochester record : -
" Families,
291
Free males,
785
" females, 763
Slaves,
3
Total, 1,551
The first State census was in 1786, of which the following is the return : --
" State of New Hampshire : Pursuant to a Resolve of the House of Repre- sentatives, the 3d March 1786, We by the appointment of the Selectmen For the Town of Rochester, Have Numbered the Inhabitants of the Town, and find their To Be 2453 Free Citizens as Taken By us alsow 3 Negroes.
JAMES ADAMS,
DANIEL WINGATE, jun.
Rochester June 5th, 1785."
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In 1791 there were reported 2,857 inhabitants; and in 1800, 3,675, or exclusive of Farmington, which had heretofore been a part of Rochester, there were 2,646. The census returns since 1800 have been as follows : -
1810,
2,118
1840,
2,431
1870,
4,104
1820,
2,471
1850,
3,006
1880,
5,788
1830,
2,155
1860,
3,384
1890,
7,395
As in most New Hampshire towns these early records show traces of the existence of slavery. In 1767 five slaves were re- turned from Rochester, three male and two female. One of the latter was Huldah Bickford (p. 82). The other is unknown. The males were Mrs. Main's " negro man Pomp," "Cæsar" the slave of Capt. Jonathan Ham who lived at "the Neck," and one un- known. Jonathan Ham was a sea captain, and a man of some note in those times. With the aid of Cæsar, who had been trained to the cultivation of tobacco, he was able to raise his own " weed." It is said that he once sent home some coffee, but as he gave no directions about its use, the family cooked it as they would beans. After boiling it a long time with no prospect of softening, they gave it up in disgust. Capt. Ham raised more potatoes than any other man in town. One year his crop filled a half hogshead, and people far and near speculated with much wonder what he could do with so many. Soon after coming from the South, Cæsar awoke one morning to find the ground covered with snow, which puzzled his wits exceedingly. Thinking it must be sugar he seized a hoe and began eagerly scraping it into heaps, and
was much vexed, on tasting, to discover his mistake. At one time Capt. Ham was dangerously sick, and Cæsar was very anx- ious. When Dr. Howe came, he inquired if " Massa Ham " would get well. The Doctor told him that he thought his master would die, and that nothing but prayer could save him. Cæsar, who was very religious, immediately hastened to the barn, whither the Doc- tor noiselessly followed, and heard him utter earnestly the following prayer : -
"O Lord ! do sabe Massa Ham! Massa Ham a berry good man! Massa Ham good to make plow ! Massa Ham good to make harrow ! O Lord! don't take Massa Ham! If you must take somebody, take old Bickford ! he ain't good for nothing."
The Doctor repeated this to Capt. Ham with such exhilarating
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effect that he began to mend at once. So Cæsar's prayer saved his master. He was afterwards known as "Cæsar Wingate " from living for a time at Judge Wingate's on the Chestnut Hills road. Twenty years ago the author conversed with an old lady who remembered Cæsar well and had many anecdotes of his odd and semi-savage habits. His ebony face, glistening eyes, and ivory teeth made a deep impression on her youthful mind. Like most of the slaves in New Hampshire he became free at the close of the Revolution. It is worthy of remembrance that while our town has to bear the stigma of having held men in slavery, one of this abused race stands on the roll of honor, as one of the quota of Rochester in the Revolution, and fought three years for our independence (p. 71). In 1783, the same year that our inde- pendence was acknowledged, the last slave in Rochester died, and Mr. Haven considered the fact worthy of notice in his discourse the following Sabbath. He remarked : -
" Every one who prizes liberty will piously wish that this may be the last African ever held as a slave in this place. Liberty is alike precious to all; and we ought to abhor the idea of slavery, when it is not a punishment for some previous crime."
The records of every town will be found to contain some refer- ence to the " surplus revenue" which is a puzzle to most of the present generation. In Jackson's administration the United States' revenue was larger than the expenses of government, and in 1836 Congress voted to " deposit the surplus " with the several state gov- ernments. New Hampshire divided her share among the several towns in proportion to the population. March 14, 1837, Rochester voted to receive her part, and the agent appointed received from the state treasurer $5,496.12. This was loaned at six per cent interest, and the town voted to appropriate the income for the support of schools. In December, 1841, it was decided by a vote of more than three to one to divide the " surplus fund " equally among the legal voters and widows having a settlement. The following March an unsuccessful attempt was made to reconsider this vote. Owing to some mismanagement or unwise investment, the amount divided in 1845, which with accumulated interest should have been as much as $6,500, was only about $3,700. Had the fund been wisely in- vested and held, the town would have had an annual income of some
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$325 for schools. As it was, it practically amounted to nothing for the town's benefit, each taxpayer receiving only a few dollars.
ROCHESTER MILITIA.
Public holidays have long played an important part in the lives of the laboring people of New England. Besides the various state and national holidays, Rochester, like other towns, has often observed certain days of her own for recreation and enjoyment. At present no holiday is so eagerly awaited by the inhabitants of this and the neighboring towns as the Rochester Fair, held at that most delight- ful of seasons, the last of September and the first of October. The general muster of the militia at the same time of year was a holi- day of no less interest and importance to the people of two preced- ing generations. By a state law of 1792, able-bodied citizens be- tween the ages of eighteen and forty-five were required to meet twice a year for military drill. To these spring and fall trainings for each company in its own town was afterwards added the annual muster of the Thirty-ninth Regiment. This regiment consisted of five companies of regular infantry, one from each of the villages of Farmington, West Farmington, Milton Three Ponds, Gonic, and Rochester, together with one Light Infantry Company collected from all parts of the district, and the Rochester Artillery Com- pany .* Sixty years ago this company ranked among the finest military organizations in the State. The only other companies that could be regarded as its rivals were the Strafford Guards of Dover, the Rockingham Guards of Portsmouth, and the Keene Light In- fantry, commanded by the veteran Gen. James Wilson. In its early days this arm of the old militia was the pride of Rochester and em- braced many of her best citizens. This company was organized as early as 1825 by William Hurd,t who was its first captain. Under his command the company became noted for efficiency and exact discipline. It was his boast that when drilling as infantry, he could " march them over a hay-mow without breaking ranks." His daugh- ter, Mrs. Hubbard, relates, with commendable pride, that when they were to engage in a sham fight and competitive drill at Dover,
* The following account of this company is mainly on authority of Colonel Whitehouse.
+ William Hurd moved into the village about 1816, and left many remembrances of his public spirit, among which are trees of his planting which still beautify both sides of Main street.
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her father, anxious that every member should be on time, had the whole company assemble at his house in the night, where he gave them a hot breakfast and then marched them to Dover, whence they marched back the same night, " bringing the prize with them." They were trained to perform the most difficult evolutions at the motion of the sword, and rarely made a mistake. After the death of Captain Hurd in 1830, Jonathan H. Henderson commanded the company, and his successors in office were Joseph Dame, James M. W. Downs, Charles Demerritt, Lewis Garland, George W. Varney, and Ezekiel Ricker who commanded the company for the last seven years of its existence. Members were carefully selected as to size and all other qualifications, and every man who could not " fill the bill" was rejected. Consequently, membership was sought as an honor, and its ranks were filled with bright, energetic young men, and its officers were men of public spirit, standing, and character in the community. Thus the company was a favorite with the peo- ple, and its gatherings for drill were always looked forward to with much interest. Their gun was an exceptionally fine brass six- pounder, which was kept in a building ncar where the schoolhouse stands, on the east side of the common, bearing the inscription, " Gun House, 39th Reg't." On the disbandment of the company in 1849, this gun was returned to Portsmouth.
The same year the " Rochester Phalanx " was organized with J. H. Edgerly as captain, but it was found impossible to arouse suffi- cient military enthusiasm to maintain its activity for more than a year.
The regimental muster of all these companies was usually held at Rochester, but on different fields : one year at the old trotting park, one year near where Samuel Varney lives, but generally in later years either on the Kenney field (p. 489) back of where Wal- lace's factory now is, or on the Hale field across the railroad from where Breed's factory stands. The scenes and incidents of those muster days defy description. Everybody and his wife and chil- dren, rising long before day, came flocking to town in rattling wagons, hay-carts, ox-carts, and lumbering vehicles of indescribable variety, or hastening across the frosty fields on foot, clad in Sunday garb, with glowing faces and staring eyes, eager to be astonished at the long-expected display, and to enjoy the sports and excitements of the occasion. The proud militia man himself would get up in
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season to do all his chores about the farm, and from miles distant arrive on the scene at five or six o'clock in the morning. And if such was the excitement of private citizens and soldiers, who can estimate the fiery zeal and swelling pride of the officers as they strutted about in the morning or issued orders to their companies from the tavern steps, and later in the day came upon the field re- splendent in the glory of blue coats, white pantaloons, and tall caps shining with patent leather and decked with waving plumes of snowy whiteness, - seeming to the gaping crowd greater than king or president ! Usually nobody had a higher appreciation of their greatness than the officers themselves, who resented the slightest infringement upon their exalted dignity. And yet the officer's po- sition was not of unmixed pleasure. It had its drawbacks. His election brought the immediate necessity of treating the company, and a frequent method of " honoring an officer " was to assemble around his house in the early morning, wakening him with their furious cheers, and then partake of a hearty breakfast not ungar- nished with other " refreshments," at his expense. Such things have a tendency to constant growth, so that in later times, at least, many refused military office on account of the increasing attendant expenses.
The muster field at its best presented a gay appearance. The various companies drawn up in line, with muskets and accouter- ments bright and clean, the officers scattered between the lines with fine uniforms and stately plumes, the Light Infantry much like the officers but with shorter plumes, and the Artillery Company with their formidable cannon, together with the motley crowd on every side, must have been an attractive and interesting scene. Ginger- bread carts, candy stands, and all sorts of variety shows, with an occasional fight between heated partisans from different towns, af- forded abundant merriment and diversion. Liquor and gambling booths grew more and more frequent, so that one year Captain Samuel Jones and his company from Farmington made a charge upon them and pitched them and their belongings over the fence. (p. 313.)
The brisk step, the martial dignity, and the clear, distinct orders of the morning had, in those days, generally become somewhat limp, languid, and indistinct toward the close of the day. Many still living can remember the great contrast between the inspiriting,
37
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clear-cut, exactly-timed strains of fife and drum as the companies came marching to the field in the morning, and the slip-shod, timeless whistle, and fumbling taps as they started on their home- ward way.
Doubtless many anecdotes might be picked up to illustrate the amusing peculiarities of those great days. It was enstomary to fire a salute at the moment the Colonel appeared on the field. One Colonel, deeply sensible of the dignity of the office to which he had just been commissioned, complained to the Artillery Company that their salute was not loud enough, -not at all such as the Colonel of the Thirty-ninth Regiment ought to receive. The company made no reply, but the next year loaded their cannon to the very muzzle, and awaited his arrival. As he rode upon the field, erect and swelling with a proud sense of his great dignity, the salute came with a terrific explosion. Everybody was startled, and the Colonel's horse becoming unmanageable cast his noble form with all its splendid adornments sprawling in the dust. As they intended, no further complaints were made of the weakness of their salute.
This same Colonel in making the customary speech to the Reg- iment in the afternoon, was very pompous and fond of using high- sounding words without regard to their fitness. One of his expres- sions has come down to the present time. He said he hoped nobody would do anything to " disgrace, enhance, or ridicule" the militia.
The last general muster was in 1847, and the remembrance of those festive scenes is fast fading away, so that it is now difficult to realize the important position which "Muster Day" held in the lives of our predecessors. Descriptions of those days not only afford entertainment, but are a valuable part of history, furnishing a characteristic picture of New England life during the first half of the present century.
A little more than ten years after the dissolution of the militia system, the people were suddenly summoned to arms to defend the life of the Nation, and instead of gala-day festivities, came weary marches, and fields deluged with blood. There was no longer the time or the disposition to play at soldiering in presence of the fearful reality. Nearly twenty years elapsed before the young men of another generation began to feel the fascinations of military display. The State made provision for volunteer service, and companies were
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formed in all the cities and most of the large towns. The company formed at Rochester appears on the state rolls as Co. E, 2d Regi- ment New Hampshire National Guard, but was organized as the Sturtevant Guards July 11, 1884. This name was in honor of J. D. Sturtevant (p. 477) who made them a donation of $100. The first officers were Isaac D. Piercy, captain; Fred L. Chesley, first lieu- tenant; and Horatio L. Cate, second lieutenant.
BANDS.
" Mechanics' Band " was organized in 1839, by John Hall, who became its leader. The original members, besides himself, were Wingate Chase, Shubael B. Cole, John Crockett, Natt Crosby, William French, William Gledghill, Thomas Hall, John Holler, Benjamin Jellerson, Eli Lord, Markwell McDuffee, John Neil, George B. Roberts, Andrew Robinson, I. W. Springfield, Eben Welch, Isaiah N. Wilkinson, and Charles Young. At the time of the celebrated Tippecanoe Jubilee, June 17, 1840, a log cabin was sent from Great Falls to Concord, with a great crowd of people, among whom were about two hundred from Rochester accompanied by Mechanics' Band. This band attracted much attention and was regarded one of the finest in the State. "On the return of the band to Rochester the ladies of the village awaited it with a beautiful flag, which was presented in a neat speech by Eliza Kenney (afterwards Mrs. Z. Sargent), and a speech of acceptance was made by G. B. Roberts. This flag was kept by John Hall for forty years and presented to the American Band."
The "Rochester Brass Band " held its first meetings in the old Court House, in September, 1850, and continued six years. Its membership was as follows : - I. W. Springfield, president; Charles G. Horney, leader; George Allison, John Beecher, Andrew Giles, Thomas Hall, Abial Horne, Edward Horney, George H. Horney, Benjamin Jellerson, Charles E. Manson, Levi L. Pierce, John H. Richardson, T. Richardson, John W. Ricker, and James Robinson.
The " American Band," which is still flourishing, was formed in September, 1871. For most of the time Lewis S. Clark has been its director. From 1876 to 1881 this band hired the services of Mr. Carty, and under his skillful training achieved a desirable reputation in the surrounding country. Its financial success has
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been largely due to the wise management of its treasurer, Charles F. Caverly.
In 1889 the " Cadet Band" was formed, composed of French residents, and has already made creditable progress under the directorship of Lewis S. Clark. Rindge's Band of Gonic was organized the same year, so that Rochester has three bands at the present time.
East Rochester has had two bands at different times, but too short-lived to achieve much distinction.
ROCHESTER FAIR.
In 1874 the people of Rochester becoming dissatisfied with the management of the old County Fair, determined to start one of their own, and the " Rochester Agricultural and Mechanical Asso- ciation " was formed "to improve and stimulate mechanical and agricultural skill." Within three weeks after the subject was first broached, the fair was in successful operation on the old Riverside Trotting Park. A hastily collected exhibition of farm and mechan- ical products was displayed in a canvas tent. For the next two years no fair was held because satisfactory arrangements could not be made with the Riverside Association. In 1877 and 1878, how- ever, fairs were successfully held on the same ground. After trying in vain to purchase the Riverside Park, the Agricultural and Me- chanical Association bought a tract of thirty-eight acres, which they named " Cold Spring Park," from the powerful spring in a wooded ravine on its eastern side, from which a steam-pump forces an abundant supply of pure cold water to all parts of the grounds. The first fair held in this park was in 1879. The exhibition building then used was destroyed by a violent storm in the winter of 1882, and the present one was erected the fol- lowing summer, being in the form of a Maltese cross 90 feet each way. Besides this there is a mechanics' building 35 by 100 feet, a grand stand capable of seating two thousand persons, and stables 1,250 feet in length. There is also an art building 25 by 60 feet with a graceful tower in the center, and a " Café" consisting of two wings, each 25 by 77 feet. Nearly $25,000 has already been expended, and during the coming year it is proposed to enlarge the present buildings, to erect a shed 300 feet long for town teams, and largely improve the ground in other respects.
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