USA > New Hampshire > Cheshire County > Surry > History of the town of Surry, Cheshire County, New Hampshire : from date of severance from Gilsum and Westmoreland, 1769-1922, with a genealogical register and map of the town > Part 25
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POTASH.
Potash was made in town 100 years ago but to what extent has not been learned. The Robinsons made it on the plain east of the hotel (No. 55). It was also made at No. 77, probably by the Fuller family.
TAVERNS AND HOTELS.
The exact date when the first public house was opened in town has not been ascertained; however, there is little doubt but it was at Peter Hay- ward's who lived at No. 1. Jonathan Smith was called "an innholder" as early as 1773.
He was succeeded by his son, Capt. Samuel Smith, prior to 1788. Lieut. John MeCurdy opened a tavern in his house (No. 12) at the south part of the town not far from 1790.
Between 1800 and 1848 the taverns did a thriving business in this town but upon completing of the Cheshire railroad from Keene to Bellows Falls and beyond, the old stage coach was doomed. There was some rivalry in those days between landlords to procure business; some held out special social qualities, others excellent board, while there were the temperance and non-temperance houses. It is related that Thomas Redding on one occasion, in order to compete with a temperance neighbor, placed up the following sign :
Why will you pass by-both hungry and dry, Good brandy and gin-please Sir, Walk in; Good oats and bedding-Your humble servant, Thomas Redding.
The following is a list of the taverns, hotels and stores in town who were licensed to "mix and sell" prior to 1906.
Jan. 28, 1765, Peter Hayward was appointed tavern keeper at No. 1.
Sept. 2, 1768, Wolston Brockway was appointed tavern keeper at No. 34. Jan. 13, 1773, Jonathan Smith, Sr .; the Samuel Ball place in village. Oct. 10, 1786, Capt. Samuel Smith succeeded his father at above place.
247
INDUSTRIES
Feb. 27, 1793, Col. Jonathan Smith, Jr .; where M. D. Carpenter now lives. Mar. 4, 1793, Jonathan Robinson, Sr .; in the village; destroyed by fire, 1907. Mar. 4, 1793, John McCurdy; where Henry L. Phillips and son now live, 1920.
Mar. 4, 1793, Benjamin Carpenter; probably the present Stephen H. Clement place.
Feb. 4, 1796, Capt. Simon Baxter; at the Shaw place; destroyed by fire, 1902.
May 6, 1796, James Kingsbury; the Capt. Francis Holbrook tavern; No. 126. Dec. 7, 1796, Ensign Asa Wilcox, Sr .; also at the above Holbrook place.
Sept. 3, 1799, Dr. Philip Monroe; the Bachelder-Keller place; burned 1915.
Jan. 18, 1800, Abel Monroe; at the widow Brockway's; the George A. Hall place.
Jan. 25, 1802, Cushman Smith; where George B. Britton now lives, 1920.
Jan. 11, 1804, Capt. Calvin Hayward; the Samuel L. Newton place.
Nov. 23, 1804, Asa Wilcox, Jr .; doubtless at Capt. Holbrook's; No. 126. May 26, 1808, David Reed, Jr .; at widow Sarah Dart's.
Sept. 8, 1808, John Norris; probably where Edward M. Britton now lives. Nov. 4, 1808, Capt. Charles Bond; the present Oscar B. Deane place.
Jan. 19, 1809, Elijah Wheelock, near the turnpike; the exact place, unknown.
Dec. 14, 1809, Isaac Field at Moses D. Field-Jno. Robinson old homestead.
Jan. 26, 1810, John Chandler; at Asa Wilcox, Jr .; Captain Holbrook; No. 126.
Apr. 24, 1810, John Thayer; probably at the J. N. Kellar summer home.
Mar 12, 1811, Isaac & Eliphaz Field; the Willard Streeter; Green place.
Mar. 21, 1811, Capt. Francis Holbrook; Asa Wilcox tavern; No. 126. June 5, 1811, Lt. Levi Fuller; the present Hollis W. Harvey place.
Dec. 9, 1811, Abel Monroe at the Col. Bond house.
Dec. 18, 1811, Aaron Loveland at the Toll Gate in Surry.
Mar. 10, 1812 Widow Lucinda Hayward; the old Peter Hayward; Samuel L. Newton.
May 29, 1813, Aaron Loveland at the Ralston farm.
Mar. 10, 1814, Elijah Fuller at his store, north of H. W. Harvey's house. Mar. 12, 1816, Josiah Knight. He perhaps kept store in village for "Hough & Redding."
Mar. 12, 1816, Stephen Richardson.
Dec. 23, 1817, Jonathan Harvey, Sr .; where George Malcolm now (1920) lives.
Sept. 26, 1818, Samuel Allen.
Sept. 28, 1818, Obadiah Redding. Sept. 28, 1818, Augustus Johnson. Dec. 26, 1818, Jehial Day.
Mar. 6, 1819, Benjamin Hills. J
These men held licenses for a few days only; probably during a "muster" or a "turkey shoot," held in town.
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HISTORY OF SURRY
Mar. 10, 1819, Samuel Robinson, who succeeded his father in the village hotel.
Apr. 17, 1819, Peter Hayward, at the old Peter Hayward; Samuel L. Newton.
Sept. 29, 1820, Judge Elijah Knight; Charles W. Reed; now John W. Lynch place.
Nov. 13, 1820, Theodore Monroe; for a few days only.
Apr. 12, 1821, Nathan Hayward; at Eliphaz Field's house for 4 days.
Mar. 13, 1821, Dan Hough & James Redding, at their village store for one year.
1822, John May; the present Congregational parsonage in the village.
1823, Col. Seth Hall; probably in southwest part.
Mar. 8, 1825, Jeremiah Robbins; the Harvey-George Malcolm place.
Mar. 8, 1825, Jonas Pollard; where Alonzo F. Wilbur now lives.
Feb. 9, 1826, Capt. Thomas Humphrey, where Frank E. Nesmith now lives.
May 26, 1827, Joseph Shelley; the Jonas Pollard; Alonzo F. Wilbur place.
Apr. 3, 1828, David Cushing; the Jonas Pollard; Alonzo F. Wilbur place.
Mar. 10, 1829, Samuel G. Bowker; the Jonas Pollard; Alonzo F. Wilbur place.
1830, Isaiah Robbins; probably at his father's old stand; Malcolm's.
1836, Capt. Thomas Humphrey's widow, Sally, continued the business.
1836, Calvin Graves appears to have kept tavern at A. F. Wilbur's place.
1841, John Johnson; the Frank E. Nesmith place, supposedly.
1841, Gilbert Crain; at the Alonzo F. Wilbur place.
1845, Elijah Holbrook; the Robinson hotel in village.
1845, J. & R. Shelley at their store in village; the Stevens store.
1846, Almond Stevens, succeeded the Shelleys in the village store.
1847, Stevens & Britton; at the village store.
Licenses were granted until about 1848, afterward nothing appears on the town records, although, taverns or hotels continued in town for half a century thereafter.
In 1841 there were four hotels in town, one in the village; one at F. E. Nesmith's place; one kept by Holbrook in the north part of the town and one where Alonzo F. Wilbur and Son live. In 1850 two only kept open house; one in the village and one at Holbrook's stand. The latter was kept by George W. Holbrook until about 1860, when it ceased to be a public house.
The village hotel continued under various proprietors until nearly the time it was destroyed by fire, in 1907. Among those who were proprietors after Elijah Holbrook removed to Keene and became proprietor of the Che- shire House, are the following: Warren Carpenter, from about 1852, until 1880 ?; James D. Cheever; George D. Ordway; Capt. Thomas L. Harmon;
249
INDUSTRIES
Ephraim B. Newton; Winfield E. Wilbur and Charles F. Britton-who ran the stage between Marlow and Keene for several years-owned the property when the hotel, sheds and barns were all destroyed by fire.
Hans Raabe moved into town in 1909 and soon after opened "The Triple Elm" house in the village, which ran about five years .- No. 54.
MERCHANTS.
So far as discovered the first merchant in town was Lieut John McCurdy the inn-keeper, at No. 12. His adv. May 3, 1790*, "For sale at his store in Surry, A few English and West India goods, suitable for the season, consist- ing of Broad cloth, chintses, calicoes, shawles, silk hankerchiefs, Irish linen, camblets, sewing silk, cordurays, lastings, leather stamped waistcoat pat- terns. Also West India and New England rum, by the barrel or smaller quantities; good Malaga wine by the kegg or gallon. Bohea tea, raisins, loaf and brown sugar, choculate, pepper, nutmeg, etc. Bar iron, English and Ger- man steel, scythes, powder, shot, felt hats. In exchange he will take, Rye, Oats, Indian corn, flax, pot and pearl ash, etc." In Mar 1794 he built and -equipped a blacksmith shop on his premises,-His adv.
Jonathan Robinson opened a store at his tavern (No. 55) about 1799. In 1803, Cushman Smith opened a store in a small building which he built on the east side of his dwelling at the present post-office, No. 43. Josiah Knight kept a store at No. 47 as early as 1816-17, and for about 50 years afterwards business was conducted in that building. S. Harrison Porter opened a store at No. 64 which ran a few years. Elijah Fuller and William Baxter opened a store at No. 78 about 1814. In 1810 there was a store at No. 126. It stood a few feet north of the tavern, later owned by Capt. Francis Holbrook, and probably existed only a few years. John Cole had a store in his house at No. 214, in 1805. It was on the Boston, Keene, Walpole, Rutland turnpike road, and it is said he did a good business.
After the old meeting house was made into a Town Hall the old store at No. 47 was closed up and a new one was opened on the first floor in the Town Hall which was in operation most of the time from 1872 until 1918. The following have been in business at this place: George W. Britton and Edwin A. Kenyon moved here from No. 47 in 1872 (firm of "Britton & Kenyon"); Frank Curtis as agent for Mr. Robb (of Stoddard?); Wesley F. Wilbur; "Crain & Carpenter"-Frederick R. and Frank P. Crain and Frank D. W. Carpenter -; Frank P. Crain, 1888; Ernest W. Carpenter, 1890-91; Merrill D. Carpenter, 1895; George N. Conley; Herbert R. Crain; William L. Olds; Cyrus Kingsbury, 1901; Lewis C. Buntlin; Charles E. George and Arthur E. Salley, 1913 until the spring of 1918, he being the last to carry on business here. For many years the town rented the Town Hall store for $1.00 per annum. . Samuel E. Howard opened a store at No. 54 in 1920, and was succeeded by Thomas J. Kelly.
SILVERSMITH
Samuel Sawyer came to No. 102 in 1794 and soon after opened a shop at No. 107 where he was engaged till his death in the plating business. He was
*Taken from THE NEW HAMPSHIRE RECORDER of Keene, N. H. May 3, 1790.
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HISTORY OF SURRY
succeeded in business by John T. Wilcox and John Blish, as "Wilcox & Blish," who dissolved partnership, Dec. 6, 1814, at which time Mr. Wilcox gave notice he would continue the business in "Plated ware, Brass and Tin harness trim- mings," etc.
CHAIR MAKING
Alanson Bingham came to town May 1866 and remained a year or two, being engaged in making chairs. He employed a few men and his shop was in the town hall.
BRAIDING HATS.
This was a business which many women, girls and boys were engaged in from about 1850 until after 1860 and while the remuneration was small, yet it served as "pin-money" and many a lass was able to obtain a new "calico gown" and buy a new blue "frock." The palm-leaf was brought into town and sold at the houses, then the finished hats were inspected, collected, paid for and a new lot of stock supplied. After a year's experience a "good spry girl" could finish 10 or 12 hats in a day for which she received "six cents each." Men from both Westmoreland and Winchester did business in Surry.
CHAIR SEATING
This business was carried on along the same lines as the hat braiding, but at a later period, and for men engaged in the chair business in Keene. This was at its height between 1870 and 1885, and to some extent is still con- tinued in town.
PORTRAITS.
Mr. A. P. Hendricks with his traveling saloon came into town about 1856 and placed his car by the roadside below No. 44. Here he remained a few weeks and took daguerreotypes of many of the citizens of that day. The next to appear was the camera about 1890, then came the kodak. Francis F. Field has a small collection of views taken before 1900 and about that time James E. Harvey, then a photographer at Concord, N. H., took views of nearly all - the dwelling houses in Surry valley.
DROVES.
Some mention of the droves which formerly passed through town should . be given for the benefit of the next generation. Prior to 1840, cattle, sheep, hogs and turkeys were driven through here on their way to Boston, and occasionally a string of horses, but all except cattle and horses ceased before 1850. Several drovers were engaged in the cattle business between 1865 and 1895 when the custom practically ran out.
George Pierce (said to have been a nephew of Pres. F. Pierce) of Royals- ton, Mass., and Edward Eldridge (or Aldrich) of Warren, Vt., as, "Pierce & Eldridge," were in the business 25 or 30 years, but at that period the drove went only as far as Mr. Pierce's home town. During September and October of each year they bought from 400 to 700 head of cattle in Duxbury, More-
.
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INDUSTRIES
town, Fayston, Warren, Northfield and Waitsfield, Vt. Natt Joslin's farm in the village of the latter town was the rendezvous. The drove started, via: Warren, Granville, Hancock, Rochester, Stockbridge, Barnard, Woodstock, West Windsor and Weathersfield in Vermont, then, crossing over the Cheshire bridge into Charlestown, N. H., they passed through Langdon, Drewsville, Surry, Keene, Swanzey and Richmond.
The trip required about two weeks, and they were selling cattle on the road after the first few days. Arriving at Charlestown and towns below they stopped over one or two days in each place where they did a brisk business.
The following list of stopping places has been obtained: At Dea. Christy's in So. Woodstock; Mr. Douglass at W. Windsor; Bidwell's tavern in Lang- don; Jonathan R. Field's (at No. 16) in Surry, and William C. Belding's in Swanzey Center. Mr. Pierce is said to have been a wizard at cattle flesh. He could tell without hesitation, the price paid, age, and of whom he bought each creature.
MINING OPERATIONS
During the whole history of this town it has been thought-by some-that there was valuable ore of some kind in Surry, and from time to time en- deavors have been made to bring it forth. It is a well established tradition that a few Spaniards were excavating on "Mine hill" at the outbreak of the Revolutionary war, and that they left these parts in a hurry, expecting to return as soon as peace was declared. And even before the settlement by the white men, the Indians obtained lead for bullets on Surry Mountain.
THE RUSSELL MINE.
1785, William Russell and others purchased several tracts of land in that part of Surry, formerly Westmoreland, and soon after began operations near No. 213-map. There were 72 equal rights, or shares owned by the following:
William Russell
12
John Briant
1
William Russell, Jr.
11 Nathan Hall
1
Thomas Harvey
4 Joseph Wilder
1
Samuel Stickney
5 Moses Stickney, Jr.
1
Josiah Goldsmith
3 Levi Haskell
1
Thomas Field
3 Josiah Willard
1
Joseph Blake
3
Benjamin Bullard
1
Jedediah Sanger
6 Flint Davis
1
Benjamin Carpenter, Jr.
1
Nathaniel Hardy
1
Samuel Ober
2
Joseph Heald
3
Asahel Blake
2
(Unknown)
6
Peter Hayward
1
William Hayward
1 Total
72
Feb. 1, 1786, Jedediah Sanger, Joseph Blake, William Russell, committee in behalf of said mine petitioned to the legislature to carry on business and state, "That they have discovered a place in Surry where they are persuaded is a valuable silver mine," they further set forth that they wish to experiment on the ores, but have not the means and desire the legislature authorize them to raise the money by public lottery, to the amount of two thousand dollars,
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HISTORY OF SURRY
for that purpose. The company probably built a dwelling and other buildings at No. 213, and for a few years worked their "valuable silver mine," now marked by an excavation of a few feet in the solid ledge.
THE SCOVELL MINE.
Amos S. Scovell, q. v., opened up a small mine on the west side of the mountain in 1851 where he labored for several months. It is understood he was in search of silver; his mine was east of the village on land then owned by William Carpenter and possibly one-quarter way from base.
THE LITTLEFIELD MINE
Rufus Littlefield of Charlestown, Mass., in company with George D. Rice, did a little at mining in 1865. They worked on land owned by Warren Car- penter, about opposite the village.
THE GRANITE STATE GOLD AND SILVER MINING COMPANY
Surry, Cheshire County, N. H. Organized in 1879
The officers were:
Directors William C. Tallman, Boston, Mass., President.
H. L. White, Boston, Mass., Treasurer.
Charles H. Drew, Boston, Mass., Attorney
Randall G. Morse, Boston, Mass.
John P. Hilton, Boston, Mass. William E. Carleton, Boston, Mass.
George A. Bruce, Somerville, Mass.
George K. Harvey, Surry, N. H.
M. Milleson, State of Nevada, Supt. and Mining Eng.
James Anderson, Secretary. A. I. Benyon, Pacific National Bank, Banker.
The company was taxed in Surry as follows :
1881
for 40 acres; valuation
$200.00
Tax
$ .75
1882
800.00
2.25
1883
66
66
400.00
1.25
1884
66
400.00
66
(non-resident)
Nothing further appears on the town records until Feb. 12, 1887, when the "M. Millison Mining Rights" were sold at public auction at the store of "Crain & Carpenter" in the village for the taxes assessed for the year, 1886. We understand those who invested in this company received nothing in return.
Except, possibly the Russell mine. This was by far the most extensive mining operation in this town. Organized, 1879, Mahlon Milleson was the prime mover, and became superintendent of the company.
Evidently from a communication to Keene Sentinel, May 31, 1880, he had implicit confidence in the undertaking, "based upon sixteen years' experience
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INDUSTRIES
on the Pacific coast I have demonstrated to my entire satisfaction that the Harvey tract is a vast mineral-bearing territory, and that a system of deep mining, run, if possible, from the river level, will open up as valuable a piece of property as any in the United States."
Operations began early in 1880 not far from the top of the mountain on land of George K. Harvey. Here they sunk a shaft in the solid rock about 75 feet, and built a boarding house, 18ft. x 40ft., two stories high, but during that summer they began operation on the Gilsum side of the mountain, on land purchased of Daniel W. Bill. At this point they sunk a shaft about 125 feet, erected an engine house, blacksmith shop, boarding house, a crusher building, etc. Ten or 12 men were engaged here for two or three years; most of the buildings went to decay while there still remain two well-holes open to entrap some innocent man or beast.
THE DAWSON MINE.
Around 1863-65 a Mr. Dawson did some mining on land of Warren and William Carpenter's where he took out copper ore. He gave employment to a few men for several months. His mine was half way up west side.
THE ALLEN MINE.
Since 1915 Leon Allen has been working near the foot of the mountain on land he purchased south of Lily pond brook. He has taken out mica, etc.
SURRY-KEENE CANAL PROJECT.
In order to ascertain the feasibility of conveying the waters of the Ashuelot river in a canal from the upper part of Surry to Keene village, Thomas M. Edwards, James Wilson, Jr., Abijah Wilder, Jr., and Josiah Colony, four energetic and influential citizens of Keene, employed Arthur W. Hoyt, a civil engineer of Deerfield, Mass., to make an accurate survey of the route; examine the soil through which the canal would pass; brooks and highways to be crossed, etc.
*His report of March 1, 1833, accompanied by a map of the entire route, indicated power was available, but for some reason the project was not carried forward. An extract of that report follows :
The survey for the proposed canal was made in October 1832, and was seven miles and 31 chains long; 33 feet wide at the top and 21 feet four inches at the bottom; 14 inches drop per mile was allowed in the whole length of the canal; two reservoirs were to be built north of Central square in Keene, and an opportunity for four mill privileges were available, and at an estimated cost of $23,180.46 not including the land damages.
Two starting points on the east side of the river were under con- sideration. The first was at "a large primitive rock projecting from the base of Surry mountain into the bed of the river, about 30 rods
*The venerable Elisha F. Lane of Keene who married Harriette P. Wilder, daughter of Abijah Wilder, Jr., now has in his possession Mr. Hoyt's report and map.
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HISTORY OF SURRY
above George Blake's house" (probably the old Tileston place) where there was an angle in the river. The second and better starting point was above the first mentioned, and within about 130 rods of "Baxter's mills" (now the Scripture mill), where a low dam could be constructed across the river, here the water entered the canal then flowing south- ward; passing east of Samuel L. Newton's house; taking the water from Sturtevant brook as a feeder; crossing the highway 10 or 12 rods north of the Albert E. Pond buildings; crossing Goose Pond brook between Enos Holbrook's grist and oil mills (now where Charles S. Payne lives) ; passing easterly of the North Cemetery, Joseph Chase and Clarence N. Holman buildings, the water entered the Upper Reservoir, through which the Fisher (or Kate Tyler) brook now flows. The water here was 83 feet above Faulkner & Colony's mill pond on West street. With a fall of 31 feet available for power, the water entered the Lower reservoir, or "Mill Pond" as it was called, which covered land south of the present Fuller School house, and was then conveyed through a canal to near the school house on School street where a fall of 35 feet more was available for manufacturing purposes.
CHAPTER XIII.
CASUALTIES, FIRES, CRIME, ETC.
Aug. 24, 1804 the town voted to allow Mr. Dean's account of $25.00 for damage in his breaking through a bridge in town.
Oct. 29, 1828, Fred W. Scovell and his sisters went from their home (No. 163) to No. 165 in the ox-cart. In descending the hill the cattle began running and when they turned into the yard at the Isham place the near cart-wheel passed over the wall at "death rock" which turned the body over, pitching the girls out. Sarah escaped unhurt, but Mary's head was crushed, causing in- stant death.
Mar. 2, 1831, the town paid Jonathan Twining $4.50 for his horse falling through a bridge.
About 1846, William Cross was at work as a farm hand for George Joslin; as he was about to unhitch a pair of oxen from a harrow the cattle ran and Mr. Cross was dragged and received a serious scalp wound. A speedy ride to Keene brought old Dr. Amos Twitchell to the spot, who removed a portion of the scalp, after which the patient recovered and subsequently went to Bos- ton and for some years was engaged in a drug store. From this accident he finally became a subject to epilepsy from which he died before middle-life.
William H. Willard, a young man, while chopping wood for Jonathan R. Field, received an injury from which he died, about Dec. 15, 1835.
Stephen Foster, 3rd, of Gilsum, was instantly killed on the night of Nov. 5, 1844, while on the road from Surry to his home. It was a dark rainy night, his carriage was upset and he was pitched out, but whether in Surry, is unknown.
Mar. 9, 1874, Jerry Rogers, a Frenchman, while chopping wood, was crushed under a tree and instantly killed. A tree which he previously had cut was lodged and while cutting another tree the strong wind dislodged the first unexpectedly. He was an agreeable and respected young man.
Sunday, July 1, 1877, the "Great Gale" or whirlwind started in west of the south mill-pond and swept easterly over Surry mountain, across Gilsum, Sullivan and into Nelson, doing considerable damage in all but this town. See History of Sullivan, p. 381.
Oct. 10, 1850, an unknown man was drowned in Baxter's mill-pond. He was seen the previous night wandering about and appeared deranged or intoxicated.
June 13, 1854, Dean Tyler died from the effects of a fall a few days pre- vious while getting over a fence on the meadow east of Geo. A. Hall's.
May 24, 1855, Willard Mansfield committed suicide by hanging himself in his barn at No. 83.
Aug. 5, 1857, Benjamin F. Horton was drowned in a spring near his house at No. 171; "partially deranged."
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HISTORY OF SURRY
Dec. 5, 1904, William H. Wright was killed while falling a tree.
June 16, 1888, while Lewis F. Blake, Frank P. Crain, Frank E. Nesmith and others were shingling the Church the staging gave away and all fell to the ground, each receiving injuries.
Feb. 19, 1814, Joseph Maynard died from a blow from a falling tree; aged 31.
Apr. 8, 1825, Charles H. Reed a son of Mrs. Asa Wilcox, Jr. died from swal- lowing a bean; aged three years.
July 11, 1830, Little Eliza Hatch, a daughter of James Hatch was drowned in the mill pond near her father's house-No. 124. Aged five years.
July 17, 1862, a child of Mr. Shompany died in edge of Alstead (above No. 137) from accidental poisoning; aged two years. Buried in Surry.
Oct. 18, 1872, Chandler Wilbur was buried in Surry. He committed suicide while living at No. 181 in edge of Walpole.
Mar. 7, 1849, a son of William L. Kingsbury met death by placing his mouth on the nose of a tea-kettle and was scalded; aged about two years. This occurred while he was living at No. 187 in edge of Walpole.
THE STAGE-COACH ACCIDENT
Monday, Oct. 16, 1848, while one of the Charlestown-Keene stages were de- scending the "Alstead hills" from Drewsville to Surry the coach was upset by the pole breaking. The six horses ran clearing themselves from the wreck but a stone wall saved the coach from rolling down the steep hill, which probably would have killed some of those aboard. Of the 19 passengers, one lady was quite badly injured being cut on her face and head by glass. This occurred half or 3/4 of a mile north of No. 137. The late C. Wharton Wilcox in relat- ing the incident stated "it was an elegant coach all painted in gold and paneled with glass."
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