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 27

Author: Kingsbury, Frank B. (Frank Burnside), 1868-
Publication date: 1925
Publisher: Surry, N. H., Pub. by the town
Number of Pages: 1086

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 27

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

"DINAH'S ROCK"

So called because here our only Indian representative (Dinah Arm- strong) was wont to sit and rest in her rambles, from her lone home in the South-western part, to the middle of the town, making friendly calls on each family, receiving a kindly welcome, a substantial meal, and a cup of tea, and telling the fortunes (in her comical way) of many a merry, light-hearted lad and lass. This large, flat rock stands close to the road-side, and was a favorite resort of the youth of the vicinity, where they chatted and sung to their hearts' content. Many a weary pedestrian has accepted its friendly and tempting offer of rest in the

*NOTE-The Lily pond is in the "sag" on the mountain.

§This was before the days of the Granite State Gold & Silver Mining Co.

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past, and for ages to come will the weary traveller avail himself of the proffered rest on "Dinah's Rock." A short distance further South is pointed out the route of a veritable

BLACK BEAR

While on his way from the river, through fields, over fences and across the road at the fork, and on, to the Western hills. His passage through our section (the old Dr. Monroe's) was unhonored and unim- peded. Being, probably, the last visit of a free native bruin to the town, I thought the occurence should not be overlooked, as it was not forgotten. A few rods farther, to the right from the "fork," in the grove on the hill-side, is a large

HEAVY ROCK

So nicely poised on a much smaller rock, that it has the appearance of being just on the point of falling; and many times stalwart men and boys have assembled there on Fourths of July to have a jolification in throwing that venerable fixture from its elevation down the hill by their united strength-but in vain; and for aught I know it still remains where nature placed it. Before paying our respects to the native-born

INHABITANTS,

It may be well to state that some fifty years ago (perhaps later) there was not a "foreigner" in the town, and but one colored person, (the Indian woman, Dinah,) but some ten or fifteen years before, there were three families by the name of McCurdy. The parents and their two sons were native of (the North of) Ireland. One son, certainly, married an American girl, and had several children. This son lived on the Page (now Edmund Woodward-1874) farm, and "kept tavern." The aged parents occupied a small house near by. Little was known of their antecedents, but it was known that the father was a very passion- ate man from the fact that once, in a rage, he knocked down his hired man, (Job Stone,) and seeing him apparently lifeless he anxiously in- quired, "Job, are ye dead? Speak if you be!" while his affrighted wife said, "Ye will have to flee the counthry again." The other son lived near Dinah's Rock, on the Willard Smith farm. All left Surry over fifty years ago. Of other inhabitants-on the extreme Northern limits of the town resided Esq. Hills, one of nature's noblemen. He had two worthy sons, and one daughter. One noticeable feature of the location was, that his fine house was in Surry and his barn (just beyond) was in Alstead. Of the medical fraternity, Dr. Philip Monroe was the pio- neer resident physician. Two of the sons, the oldest and youngest, were eminent physicians and surgeons in Maine. The originator and practitioner of the "Botanic system" of healing, Dr. Samuel Thompson, was a resident of Surry many years, but subsequently located at Bos- ton, where he had an extensive and successful practice until his death. He had three or four sons; all migrated West and became eminent bot- anic physicians in their respective localities. Dr. John Thompson, the youngest, settled in Albany, N. Y., and for a time edited and published

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the BOTANIC WATCHMAN. Becoming opulent, he presented his na- tive town, Surry, with a bell for the church. The acceptance and raising of the bell was the occasion of a large gathering and public demonstra- tion of joy by the inhabitants. An oration was delivered by Jonathan Robinson, Jr., Esq., (now-1874-a resident of Keene), and a report of the memorable event was duly published in the SENTINEL of that period. Surry can lay claim to another Editor, in the person of Mr. Asahel Harvey, Jr., the only son of our worthy town clerk. He served his apprenticeship in the Sentinel office, Keene, and afterward located and published a weekly paper in Canandaigua, N. Y.

Surry contained many lovers of music, and some excellent singers. Among the former were our venerable pastor (Rev. Perley Howe) and David Shaw, Esq. Neither made any pretension to musical talent, but encouraged it in others. Esq. Shaw's lovely daughters were indeed sweet singers. A pleasant event comes to my mind: On the writer's sixteenth birth-day, on a Sunday in July, a stranger musical minister and several gentlemen singers from Keene, among whom was the late Mr. J. Lamson, happened to be at the church and took part in the sing- ing. On leaving the church, Mr. L. remarked to those around him, "If you want to hear better music than that, you must go out of this world for it." He, and many other participants in the exercises of that day have "passed on" to find the better music.

"This opening of "memory's store-house" and giving reins to imagin- ation on a mental trip to Surry has caused me to so mingle with the pleasant past that for the time being I had forgotten that I had passed the allotted time of "three score years and ten."

Yours respectfully, B. C.

Charlestown, Mass., Feb. 1874."

NOTE-The author of this history has made three or four slight additions to the original paper which are given in parentheses.

Mrs. Cadis concludes her reminiscences with the following:

POEM

"THE LEAVE-TAKING."

"These pleasant tales, of hills and glens, Described in such a hurry, I dedicate to former friends, Inhabitants of Surry.

And trust no one will feel aggrieved, Or deem me false or slurry, If they'er included and preceived In this pen-sketch of Surry.

When memory brings dear forms to view, My eyes are rather blurry;

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Of many friends, but very few Are dwelling, now in Surry.

I've learned to see things "for the best," And not to fret or worry, Although this form, when laid to rest, Will be elsewhere than Surry.

Now, "fare-thee-well," natal town- Thine errors let us bury, And trust thy future, (of renown,) Will be for good, to Surry.

Charlestown, Mass., February 1874. B. C."

The following is a partial copy of an article written by Francis F. Field and published in the New Hampshire Sentinel, May 8, 1897 :

AN OLD BURIAL YARD

In going from Keene to Surry, when beyond the stone bridge looking north over the graceful elms which line the Ashuelot, can be seen, several miles away, a broad pasture sloping toward us, its highest point a broken ledge, which stands in peaceful contrast between the earth and sky. In summer this slope lies warm in the sunlight and in winter its snows glow with a purer light than that of the lower hills. It is the south end of Surry mountain and is called the pinnacle.

A near view would show that here the mountain leaves its regular curve and pushes the ledge boldly out toward Surry valley, its bare breast exposed to all the moods of the western sky. This ledge is a hun- dred feet or more in height, the upper part conglomerate, the sides coarse quartz and mica, blackened in places with scale moss, the crypto- gamia on rocks of the higher hills. It is the watch-tower of the Ashue- lot valley. From its top can be traced the winding ways of the river from the upper end of Surry through Keene into Swanzey. Nearly every, if not every house in the first mentioned town can be seen. In the southeast is Monadnock, the line of its western decline pointing toward Keene; to the right of the city the Ash Swamp meadows, the rails of the Fitchburg railroad * track drawn through them like a silver wire; still farther on and up amidst the haze, Saddleback (or Stratton mountain in Vermont), one of the highest of the Green moun- tains; in the west and north of the hills of Walpole and Alstead, with their many miles of forest and clearing.

From this ledge the mountain slopes gently toward the east, a mile or less, meeting a smaller hill, and with a similar decline on the south runs into the low lands in Keene. It is mostly an open field, a deep glen cutting in north and south through the middle. Through this glen, dark with pines which grow upon its sides, runs the Sturtevant brook, mak-

*Originally this was the Cheshire railroad, then Fitchburg and now the Fitchburg division of the Boston & Maine railroad system.

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ing just before entering the meadows far below a beautiful cascade named by a local poet Glen Ellen. Over the glen east of the pinnacle is an old graveyard. The last burial of which any stone makes record is in the year 1799.

The yard is in a most picturesque slope in the open field which is used for a pasture. All traces of any fence which there may have been is gone. There are but eight headstones, some natural slabs and others black slate with winged heads in the arch which have inscriptions, and of these but two are standing. The others are lying upon the ground, some of them broken into several pieces. The oldest death recorded here is 64 years. The yard is in Gilsum not many rods from the Keene line. Mrs. Ebenezer Kilburn was the first person who died in that town; she was but twenty years old (died June ye 25th 1765), a fair, delicate girl, who came from one of the wealthy families of Connecticut. An epitaph on one of the two stones still standing dwelt in our minds as we walked home in the cool winter twilight: "Let me not forgotten lie." It seemed like the last appeal to care for this place before it sinks forever into the deep of night. Our fore-father's perhaps belong to us all. We are proud to call all like them our ancestors, and anything which we can do to preserve the record of their bold and daring lives, and make lasting the place where they lie, will ennoble us, and we shall be entitld in fu- ture years to the respect from the life which is to be. We owe to such as they the blessings comforts and privileges which we so much enjoy now. "A great nation pays reverence to its ancestors" and a small sum would reset those stones and build a permanent wall around this yard.

A tender romance hangs around this spot, of a young bride coming here to break the stillness of the forest with her voice. The birds were singing then their love songs to her responsive heart. She saw the for- est turn from green to gold and purple, and then the long winter wil- derness of glittering trees. When the birds came again and sang their songs she gave her life to her child, and one June day, when all the air was sweet with the scent of wild flowers, and the bell notes of the moun- tain brook, floated away in the space of heaven, they made her grave near the rock where the wild columbine grows, and it was the first among all these hills ever gilded by morning sunrise.

Those who hold the records of the ecclesiastical history in the town, who still read from the same book, the leaves worn thin by hands which held it, tenderly, yet with a more unyielding clasp than now, is it any- thing to them that the stones which marked the resting place of their first disciple of Christ lies broken on the ground, the dull face in its rounded arch looking stupidly up to the white clouds in the sky.

Turning to Keene, that fair city, "The Gem" not only of "the Ashue- lot" but of the state as she reclines so gracefully on her crystal meadows, tossing back with some degree of luxury and pride the sunbeams from her western windows, would she be indifferent of those who helped to lay her foundation? Graceful in her to throw around this spot a wall of protection and again erect those monuments with a new consecration; not with sobs, as then, from lips grown pale with long suffering; not with tears, as then, from hearts already faint with anguish; but to per- petuate nobleness, patriotism and valor; and in gratitude that, because

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of those who lie there-their once strong arms folded over their breasts -thousands have since lifted their hearts with joy in happy homes beside their willowy stream.

REMINISCENCES AND ANECDOTES

Formerly there was a sizable boulder on top of Bald hill. In 1843 some of the young men thought it a good way to celebrate the 4th of July by rolling it down the hill. Jonathan Harvey, Sr. who lived near the foot fearing it might hit his buildings in its flight, remonstrated, but his pleadings were of no avail. So he hired a man to go up and drill and split the stone hoping thus to deter the boys from their purpose. But the boys plans were made and they went up with levers and by strenuous labor they succeeded; the rock rolled down into a gutter where it still remains while the twenty or more partici- pants were jubilant.

About 1855 while the County Supt. of schools was visiting school in a neighboring town during the devotional exercises, a lad came to the passage, "Is there no balm in Gilead? is there no physician there?" He read it thus: "Is there no barn in Gilsum? is there no physic there?"

One day as the Parson was passing a house a demented woman excitedly cried out, "Mr. Howe-Mr. Howe you must look out, I saw a black-eyed-hawk after your Phebe bird the other day." The good parson chuckled over the joke. Not long after the marriage of Phebe Howe and Dr. John Petts took place.

One town meeting day Augustus Johnson got up and said "I saw a man this morning who said if I would vote his ticket, he would take me to the meeting give me a good dinner and take me home again at night. I told that man I COULD WALK, and the first two letters in that man's name is GEORGE W. HOLBROOK."

The teacher at the south end school sent a small boy out one day to get a stick for a whipping. He soon returned with a dry mullen stock while the teacher having a fine sense of humor sent him to his seat unpunished.

A man from Walpole taught the village school during the winter of 1856 and during one noon hour the big boys filled the stove full of wood then opened the draft. The heat set the woodwork afire and was not put out until an abundance of water had been thrown over head which drenched the room while the scholars were excused for the balance of that day. On another oc- casion the boys took levers and jacked the south side of the school-house up nearly two feet where it remained until the next day.

Some of the rough element got a young man from the north-west part of the town out one night on some pretext, held him in captivity an hour or so then set him at liberty. As the lad approached his home he bawled out, "Get up father !; rout out Hannah !; tar'n-feather'd all over by the Proctor boys; h-ls to pay."

The old militia company held an annual muster in Surry until about 1848. The organization had got into a demoralized condition in this part of the

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state before it finally ceased; gambling, vice and rowdyism prevailed. Many a respected citizen had "a spree" on muster-day. Old Gus at-

tended and got dead drunk one time, so four men got a lumber wagon and carted him home. As they dumped him on his kitchen floor he revived and called out, "Sal, Sal, have you got some rum to treat the bearers?" On an- other occasion an industrious citizen who never let a nickel slip through his fingers returned from a muster in a dazed condition. His wife met him at the door and exclaimed, "Why, Ed. what does this mean?" "Oh don't mind, it didn't cost a cent," was his reply.

The following item appeared in Keene Sentinel July 1895. "Excavations have recently been made on Mine, or Surry hill near the George L. Britton place to see what could be found of certain tools which tradition says were left there by the Spaniards who were digging for gold or silver" prior to the Revolutionary war. Several tools were "found" ?- an axe, gun, trap, sledge hammer, drills, etc. all in a rusty condition, and all of which had been placed there only a few days previous by some of the boys as a joke on William P. Mason.

While Holland Stevens was running the mill at south part of the town some of the school boys stumped him to a race on the mill pond. Holland took out his skates and with considerable difficulty finally reached the upper end of the pond. When all was ready the boys started, Holland followed on for a few rods, then went by the lads like a shot, whirling, he skated backward reaching the goal in the lead amid the chagrin of the boys.

About 1810 two Surry men were expecting an "heir," their neighbor, Ben- jamin Merrifield promised a lamb to the first arrival. The first received the honor of being named "Benjamin Merrifield Britton" while the latter was christened just, "Benjamin Britton." When Benjamin Merrifield Britton was four years he went and claimed his prize and from that time until he was over 70 years of age he was never without one or more sheep. A most re- markable coincident the men died the same day-Oct. 29, 1891.

An article in the Town Warrant one year was to see "what action the town will take regarding the ice trouble on Gilsum road." A young man near the village placed the letter "L" before the word "ice" without being apprehended.

Rev. Perley Howe when examining school one day asked a boy if he could tell him how far he had got in his reading. "Yes sir, to a page beyond God." "Ah, my boy, there is where a great many of us have got."

One fall old uncle David and his son Henry attended a muster and like many others got too much toddy. On arriving home at dusk David fell from the wagon, injuring his head. Henry ran for the camphor and sopped on a lot to revive his father, all the time asking if he was much hurt? They dis- covered upon entering the house that the bottle contained blue ink. This was too good, and one of the girls told it to a friend and soon after old Dr. Hammond of Gilsum is said to have written a poem which was printed in a local paper, much to the disgust of uncle David.

THE WHIPPING POST

In ye olden times Surry, like most other towns, had her whipping post. We are told that it stood near the road, No. 35. One dark night three of the

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young men of the town took the Post and dropped it into a deep well that was near. It was some time before its hiding place was discovered, meanwhile the culprits had repented their rash act, and fearing that they might be found out and have to pay the penalty at the recovered Post, left town for a few months, till Surry skies were once more serene.

TURTLE AND VEAL

Samuel Poole did not like and would not eat turtle, and so Bill Kingsbury having caught a good fat one, invited Poole down to help him out on a job. The "job" took the forenoon and included the dinner. Mr. Turtle was cooked in the best of order, and Poole took hold of it and wanted several orders filled. This was too good to keep, and Brad Britton, an old hector, took much de- light in the village store telling how Poole, with turtle claws hanging out of the corners of his mouth, kept calling for more "veal."

A SPLASH IN A PUDDLE

A citizen from the north end of the town came one evening to the village tavern on horseback, and after passing some time at the "bar" was ready to return. Some of the big boys being ready to assist him, got his horse and saddle ready, while he was taking one more swig. The saddle was placed in position, but not buckled on; from the back part a rope some 15 feet long was attached to the shed. The rider was helped on gently, the horse was given a switch, and-all were "off"-the rider landing with a splash in a large mud puddle, which sobered him up and he was able to ride home without further "assistance."

THE BIBLE DISPUTE

Holland Stevens once when talking with Jonathan R. Field said the Bible was a contradictory book; there is a passage which reads, "If sinners entice thee, consent thou." A strong dispute resulted in the Bible being brought forth, from which Holland read the verse and closed the book with a bang. It was demanded that he show the passage and while Holland was looking for it, said in an injured tone that he was not used to having his veracity questions. "There it is, now Jock don't read too far." But Jonathan calmly and vigorously read the passage through, "If sinners entice thee, consent thou not." (Prov. 1:10). Holland still triumphant persisted he had read "too far." In religious belief he was a Spiritualist, and is said, took delight ridi- culing certain passages in the Bible.

WALKED WHILE ASLEEP

One evening when Benjamin M. Britton was about 12 years of age his father left him to watch his coal-pit for a short time; soon after he fell asleep and walked to the house of Seth Carpenter (at No. 225). Walked into the kitchen and took a chair and began answering questions in a bewildered man- ner. Finally he was given an apple and when he took the first bite he awoke and much to his surprise found he had traveled nearly half a mile.

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TOLL-GATE

The old toll gate at No. 98-99 until after 1840 extended over the highway in which a gate was raised and lowered at will. One day a loaded team en- tered and while paying the toll two girls entered and inquired the price for "two men and a horse," upon being informed one with a twinkle in her eye said, "well we are two gals and an old mare"-"go-on-dolly!"

CHAPTER XV.

CELLAR-HOLES, HOUSE-SITES, DWELLINGS, MILLS, SHOPS AND

PLACES OF HISTORICAL INTEREST

The first abode of most of the early settlers of this town was the typical log cabin; when this gave place to a more comfortable dwelling it frequently happened that the first site was obliterated and cannot now be located. That part of Surry which was taken from Gilsum was "lotted" and "ranged"; a copy of the survey is existent and the land records in Cheshire county Regis- ter of Deeds office in Keene have made possible fairly accurate statement in regard cellar-holes, building-sites and occupants.

With the Westmoreland Leg, part of Surry we are less fortunate. The early Proprietors records containing the lots and ranges are not known to exist and the Range Table is said to have been destroyed. This has meant many months' work at the Register of Deeds office to even attempt to learn the early settlers, and as it was here that Peter and William Hayward, John Johnson, Charles Rice, Joseph Whitney, William Barron and possibly others of our first settlers lived it is with keen disappointment that we are unable to discover more documentary evidence in regard to this part of the town.

This chapter takes up present and former residences, house sites, mills, shops and historical data. So far as known every dwelling and house site, except wood choppers' camps, has been mentioned.

The numbers refer to the map which accompanies this volume, an enlarge- ment from Smith & Morley's map of Cheshire County, 1858, with many addi- tions. This has been made especially for this work and while not accurate in every detail, we believe it sufficient for all practical purposes. The map alone representing much labor and research, is by Mr. Samuel Wadsworth and the author; though not absolutely necessary we believe it merits approval and will add greatly to the value of the history.

ABBREVIATIONS

L .= lot. R .= range. S .= Surry. £=English pound. R. of D .= Register of Deeds. G. H .= Gilsum History,

Sull His .= Sullivan History. n f r .= no further record.

q v .= which see.

1842/3=about that time.

1842-48=from 1842 until 1848.

?= exact date unknown.

RESIDENCES

1. Peter Hayward settled on this farm between 1753 and 1762; he built his cabin (near No. 11/2 on map) in which he lived until about 1764 when he erected about 20 rods nearer Keene line the substantial dwelling now standing at No. 1, and occupied by Samuel L. Newton. The house is about 40 feet square, has a massive chimney and contains seven fire-

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No. 1.

HAYWARD HOMESTEAD.

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places. Mr. Hayward opened a tavern here in 1765. Sept. 11, 1780 he sold his 364 acre farm and buildings to his "living son" Nathan Hay- ward who deeded the property back within a few years, then Peter con- veyed the place to his sons, Elias and Calvin. Nov. 3, 1798 Calvin bought out his brother's interest and opened a tavern here, 1804. After Cal- vin's d. his son Peter took over the property and lived here until about 1854, when he and Roxana, his wife, sold to Ephraim F. Towns of Keene. Jonathan R. Field was here from Apr. 1, 1855 until 1858 at which time the property contained 225 acres and sold for $3500.00. William T. Pierce came 1858 and his heirs sold 1863 to Lewis Newton. The latter sold to his son, Ephraim B. Newton, Oct. 18, 1872 and Jan. 1, 1900 the present owner, Samuel L. Newton, bought the farm. There was a toll- gate near here about 1800 and a cider mill years ago.

2. John Levitt sold L. 2; R. 1 No. 43 under the mountain to Woolston Brock- way, Brockway to Nat'l Peck, 1768. Peck to Sam'l McCurdy 1772, who sold to James McCurdy 1787, who settled here, about 1788. He built a log dwelling where a cider mill later was erected (see C. M. map). In 1806 William Thompson lived here, "and the house had the name of be- ing haunted. It was, however, discovered to be only through the tricks of some of his roguish boys."-G. H. In 1814, Robert and Thomas Austin purchased the property and lived in the log house while erecting a large substantial dwelling a few rods to the south in 1816. This house which stood until 1876 (?) was one story, stood facing the west and contained a huge stone chimney, with fireplace. Mr. Austin by opening doors could drive his oxen and sled of wood into the kitchen, roll a log into the fireplace and go out at the other end. About 1830 he reduced and made the chimney "up-to-date" so as to take a log only four foot long, but as time went on, 1840 (?), he removed and rebuilt a modern chim- ney and put in a cook stove. The change to modernism was not wholly satisfactory; Mr. Austin often said, "I am tired and sick of cutting up trundle bed wood" and Mrs. Austin, so familiar with the old crane hook and skillet said the "stove could not and would not work." There is little doubt but their discomforts were shared by most others at one time or other. The Austins built a cider mill in the bank which was in use till 1845 (?), the site of which can still be seen, and a few feet east of the house was the old well, still seen, where dangled for many years the "old oaken bucket." The "boys bed-room" was built in the space taken by the old big chimney. The brothers both lived here sev- eral years, when Robert removed to Walpole and finally to Gilsum. Thomas remained till 1853 when he went to No. 146, thence to Keene where he died. Jonathan Mansfield here, 1853-Apr. 1854. Elias H. Heath, a wood chopper, about one year, and possibly some other chop- pers for short periods, when the buildings went to decay and the house was torn down and removed by J. D. and H. H. Carter about 1876.

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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 27

Author: Kingsbury, Frank B. (Frank Burnside), 1868- Publication date: 1925 Publisher: Surry, N. H., Pub. by the town Number of Pages: 1086

Author: Kingsbury, Frank B. (Frank Burnside), 1868-
Publication date: 1925
Publisher: Surry, N. H., Pub. by the town
Number of Pages: 1086