USA > New Hampshire > Grafton County > Wentworth > History of the town of Wentworth, New Hampshire > Part 5
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HISTORY OF WENTWORTH, N. H.
five years and then sold his farm to Mr. Downing. He lived next on the place now owned by Lester Hutchins, and last upon the Robert Dodge farm, so called, in Rowentown. He served as lieutenant and then as captain in the Fifth Company of the old Thirteenth Militia Regiment, being always known thereafter as Captain Colburn. He held many minor offices, and was selectman in 1819, and always a good neighbor and townsman. From Captain Colburn and his sons, Uriah, Jr., James F., Joseph and Joshua (Atwood) are descended the race of Colburns now numerous and widely dispersed in this region.
The name of Foster, Forster or Forester, as it is variously spelled, is common in parts of England as well as the southern part of Scotland.
John Foster, who had been a tax gatherer for King George the Second in England, came from Reading, England, to this country, and died in Reading, Mass. His wife was Katherine O'Ragan.
Their son James served three years in the Revolu- tionary Army. He married Mehitable Atwood; they came from Pelham, N. H., to Wentworth in 1806 or 1807. James died a few years later, aged 67 years.
The oldest son of James and Mehitable (Atwood) Foster was John Foster, Sr., born in 1770. He moved from Rumney in 1814 to the place now owned and
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THE NEXT THIRTY YEARS, 1790-1820
occupied by his descendant, Ben B. Foster, and died there.
The second son, James Foster, Jr., was born in 1771. He settled in Wentworth on what was later known as the Joshua Foster farm. His wife was Betsy, daughter of William White. The land on the west side of the river, formerly owned by White, passed to the Foster family; that on the easterly side formed later the farm of Colonel Joseph Savage. James, Jr., died in 1848, aged 77.
Joshua Foster, Sr., the third son of James, Sr., was born in Pelham, N. H., and with his wife, who was Judith Nevins of that town, came to Wentworth probably in 1811. They settled on what has been known as the George W. Boyd place on the South Branch, and were the original settlers on that land. Joshua died on this place at the age of 72 years.
From these three brothers have descended our various races of Fosters, many of whom have been counted as among the leading and substantial men of the town, and of whom more will be said later on.
From 1790 to 1810 the town grew rapidly and showed a large increase in population and valuation. The citizens were becoming self-conscious and had great ambitions for the future of the community.
One of these projects was to make Wentworth a shire town. From 1810 to 1815, a continual effort was
.
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HISTORY OF WENTWORTH, N. H.
made with that end in view. Articles were put in the town meeting warrants and at different times com- mittees were elected to promote in the legislature and elsewhere the efforts to have a courthouse built in the village and, if possible, have the county records kept here.
This was beyond any doubt one and perhaps the main reason why the ground which is now the Com- mon was cleared off, as it was urged the county build- ings would, of course, be located around the Common; hence it should be improved in order to be a suitable civic center, as it were, for the new county seat. This plan to make of Wentworth a shire town speaks well for the enterprise of her people at that time, but, it is hardly necessary to add, failed in its object.
The first stage line making regular trips through the town was put in operation in 1814. It is likely from that time onward a mail was received daily at the post office, then in charge of the town's first post- master, Squire Caleb Keith.
The town as a whole did not prosper as well during the years from 1810 to 1820 as in the two previous decades.
The War of 1812 increased the burdens of taxation and hindered trade and development. We must re- member our people were practically all farmers and depended upon their crops for their sustenance. The
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THE NEXT THIRTY YEARS, 1790-1820
season of 1816, described at some length elsewhere, was one of abnormal cold and frost. Snow fell every month during the year; crops failed and there was a great dearth of food. It was a time of scarcity every- where and, in places, one of great privation and hard- ship. The only crop which did even fairly well was po- tatoes.
Contrary to the popular belief, the early settlers did not recognize the value or make much dependence on potatoes as a staple crop. They no doubt cooked and used more turnips than they did potatoes during the early period.
One spring a man living on Atwell Hill sent out word that any one who wanted some potatoes for seed was welcome to come and get some of his; that he had a whole barrel full and would be glad to give them all they wanted.
In the year 1815 a very serious and fatal epidemic of what was called spotted fever prevailed. This sick- ness was more or less prevalent during the year over much of New England. It was far less serious in Went- worth than in many other localities.
Warren suffered severely at this time. The historian of that town devotes an entire chapter to the descrip- tion of the ravages of the spotted fever in that town during the year.
There is no doubt that the epidemic of 1815, fol-
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HISTORY OF WENTWORTH, N. H.
lowed by a year of great scarcity and hardship, caused by the loss of the usual food supplies, occasioned widespread distress and suffering, not confined, how- ever, to the people of any one town but generally throughout the entire region.
Taken as a whole, it was a gloomy and distressing period.
The War of 1812, as it is called, was also a strain upon the townspeople. The actual part taken by Wentworth citizens in that struggle can be briefly told.
During the first year of the war the military forces of the state were chiefly used for the protection of our northern frontiers against a force attempting an in- vasion from Canada.
During this war, enlistments were for short periods; in some cases for only sixty days. The usual enlist- ment appears to have been, however, for six months.
In July, 1812, a company commanded by Capt. Ephraim H. Mahurin was drafted from the old 13th Militia Regiment and stationed at Stewartstown.
The following Wentworth men served in Captain Mahurin's company, enlistments being for six months: Enoch Page, Jr., sergeant; William Leicester, pri- vate; David Saunders, Jr., private; Benjamin Smith, Jr., private. William Leicester served two enlistments, or one year, in this command.
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THE NEXT THIRTY YEARS, 1790-1820
In 1814 a force was raised hastily for the defence of Portsmouth, then believed to be in great danger of an immediate attack by land and sea; enlistments were for sixty days.
The town furnished at this time the following men: Wentworth Downs, second lieutenant, Harty's com- pany; William Aiken, second sergeant, Harty's com- pany; John Aiken, private; Enoch Knowlton, private.
It is very likely the town may have had more men in the service at some time during the war than has been shown here. It is rather hard to get definite in- formation on this point. Many of the muster rolls are incomplete, showing only the soldier's name and rank, and give no residence.
As we are now writing of military affairs, this would be a proper place to mention the militia system which obtained in the state from the close of the Revolution to the year 1852 and until abolished.
The spring training and the fall muster were be- yond a doubt the gala days for the whole population. All men between the ages of 18 and 45 were subject to military duty, only the physically unfit, "Clergymen and Ideots" being exempted.
These trainings were held for years previous to 1850 at Rumney Plain, where there was a large tract of level ground. Here was displayed on every muster day, perhaps not all the "pride, pomp and circum-
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HISTORY OF WENTWORTH, N. H.
stance of glorious war," but as much of it as could be rallied to the colors for the occasion.
To the small boys and girls, too, apparently it was a time of joy unconfined.
The men who trained received no pay for their day's work, but were furnished rations at the town's expense. Rum as well as food was included in these rations. In case the town failed to furnish rations, they had to pay the recruit 34 cents in cash in lieu of rations.
Until about 1840, Wentworth was classed with other nearby towns to constitute the 13th Militia Regiment of the state.
After 1842, Wentworth, Rumney, Dorchester and Groton were grouped together and constituted the 35th Regiment State Militia.
The town furnished its full proportion of officers for these regiments during the many years they were in existence, and two generals of high rank, to wit: General Absalom Peters and General Asa Dolloff, both of whom attained the rank of Division Com- mander, an important position.
The history of the Phalanx Company belongs to another and later period.
It may be of interest to note here that the original general officers of the 35th Regiment were: Colonel, Asa Dolloff of Wentworth; lieutenant-colonel, Jno. P. Burnham of Rumney; major, Jedediah C. Wood-
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THE NEXT THIRTY YEARS, 1790-1820
bury of Wentworth; adjutant, Joseph Savage of Wentworth; quartermaster Abram Preston, probably of Rumney.
With the coming of the year of 1820, the town's population was about 800. The selectmen's account for that year showed receipts from all sources of $1,933.44. They paid out the same year, for all pur- poses, $1,936.03, and reported a net debt of $27.55 at the close of the year's business. There were six school districts which received between them $313.56 for school purposes. The twelve highway districts were allotted the sum of $520.08. The state tax was $128, while the county treasurer received during the year from the town, $139.62. A new schoolhouse was built in District No. 7 at a cost of $102.04. They also paid Isaac Fisk $50 for a new bridge on the South Branch. Small items of a general nature accounted for the balance of the payments. Daniel Cole and Moses Eaton were taxed on stock in trade. The same year, Ezekiel Akin, Robert Eames, Timothy Gile, Aaron Jewett, Caleb Keith, John Page and Samuel Stevens were taxed on Mills.
This very brief review will serve to show the ma- terial progress made by the town up to the year 1820.
There is abundant evidence to show the town was then looked upon as a thriving and prosperous com- munity with an assured future which was confidently awaited.
CHAPTER IV- 1820-1850
ACTIVE PROGRESS - BUILDING OF THE MEETING- HOUSE - CHURCH SOCIETIES - COMING OF THE RAILROAD - TOWN AT ITS ZENITH - REVIEW OF YEAR 1850
THE NEXT THIRTY YEARS, 1820-1850
It can be fairly said the town was now entering upon a period of expansion, improvement and de- velopment.
No one can study the history of the town and re- flect upon it, without reaching the conclusion that these years from 1820 to 1850, which we are now con- sidering, were the best and most satisfactory in the whole period of the town's existence.
During this time the town had a larger population, did more business, made more progress and last, but not by any means least, had during these years a citi- zenship of a higher average degree of ability, resource- fulness, enterprise and talent, than it had ever pos- sessed before, or ever has been able to show since.
More constructive work was done and more ma- terial and we believe also moral and spiritual prog- ress made during the years we are now considering
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THE NEXT THIRTY YEARS, 1820-1850
than at any other era in the history of the town.
Agriculture, always the main business of the town, reached during this period its highest development. There were too, many shops, mills and various small industries that contributed to the comfort and sup- port of the population.
The district school system was developed during this time to its fullest extent and an association of in- terested and public spirited citizens had established an academy for the advancement of education and the more general diffusion of knowledge.
About 1830 the church was built and has remained ever since, an ornament to the town. In the years from 1821 to 1829, with one of its citizens a member of Congress and during three years of this time with another citizen a member of the Governor's Council, the height of political influence and power of the town was undoubtedly reached.
The first minister was regularly settled in town in 1833 in the person of the Rev. Increase S. Davis, a man of striking personality and strong character; he made a large contribution to the town's welfare and betterment. On the material side, we find the town had in 1830 a population of 924 and was equipped with a handsome church, four stores, two taverns, six saw and five grist mills as well as three carding and fulling mills.
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HISTORY OF WENTWORTH, N. H.
There were two and sometimes three doctors regu- larly settled in town, one of whom (Whipple) was then president of the Grafton District Medical So- ciety.
It was a time of progress and substantial growth lasting until after 1850. No land has been cleared since 1850 except a small spot here and there and since that year the population has steadily declined.
The great event during the years just preceding 1850, was the building to and through the township of the Boston, Concord and Montreal Railroad which ran its first train to Wentworth station in May, 1851.
The railroad was at first warmly welcomed by the townspeople who invested some $60,000 in the enter- prise. This money was nearly all lost in the end. The original stockholders in due time got the experience while outsiders got the railroad.
Space does not permit the mention even by name of all who were prominent in affairs during more or less of this period.
Neither is it any reflection on any person or persons if their name happens to be left unmentioned. But a few individuals or families who seem representative will now be briefly considered.
Enoch Page, Jr., son of Enoch the pioneer, was for a long time a leading citizen. He held much town office and was at the time he died, Treasurer of Grafton County.
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THE NEXT THIRTY YEARS, 1820-1850
He was a soldier in the War of 1812 and was in- jured either when he was in the Army or very soon after, so that he became permanently lame. He taught school before he went into the Army and after his discharge and injury, seems to have taught nearly all the time.
He was known from one end of the town to the other and in other towns, as "Master Page." His method of discipline made a deep impression on his pupils, at least physically.
A visitor at one of his schools recalls that he found Master Page sitting at his desk. Behind him was a col- lection of withes and switches of assorted size and weight. He could thus make the punishment fit the crime. The visitor asked Master Page what use he made of so many withes and was informed "He in- tended to show the rebels there was a God in Israel," a favorite expression of his. He may have got some of his ideas of discipline while in the Army and appears to have bettered his instructions. In spite of his harsh- ness, his services as a teacher were in demand and he was looked upon as a capable and efficient monitor, guide and instructor in general to the rising genera- tion. He outlived his father but a few years, dying in 1835 of spotted fever and, with many of his kindred, is buried at the village.
Ebenezer Atwell came in 1819, settling upon the hill then called Wentworth Hill. He was a prosperous,
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HISTORY OF WENTWORTH, N. H.
substantial citizen. The family of Atwells increased in number as well as influence; in time the locality where they were living became known as Atwell Hill. The name has persisted up to the present time but the race of Atwells are not now represented in the town's population.
Having described how Atwell Hill came to receive its name, it would be fitting to speak next of Rowen- town.
The race first entered on the town books as Roin, then as Roen and shortly and finally as Rowen, came to town at an early period. Joshua Rowen, who it is believed was a Revolutionary soldier, was here in 1809, possibly before; there was also John and Jacob Rowen.
The Rowens are believed to have been of Scotch descent. They intermarried more or less with the Saunders family, and lived in that vicinity. In later years the Rowens settled numerously in the south part of the town, in the basin lying at the foot of Smart's Mountain. This locality received its name from their race, having certainly since about 1840, perhaps earlier, been known as Rowentown.
The name seems to be firmly established and is mentioned in deeds, wills and other legal papers of record. It serves to perpetuate in the region the name of Rowen, perhaps for all time.
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THE NEXT THIRTY YEARS, 1820-1850
About the year 1640-50, Jonathan Stanyan came from England and settled in Hampton, N. H. His wife was Mary Sanborn. They had two sons and were the founders in America of the Stanyan family.
Newell Stanyan, a descendant in the fourth genera- tion from the first Jonathan, was born May 30, 1798 in Chichester, N. H .; his wife was Hannah Drake of the same town. They moved to Wentworth in 1821 or very early in 1822 and bought on Atwell Hill the farm later owned by the Rev. Mr. Howard and ad- joining the General Peters' place. They were two of the eight charter members of the Congregational Church Society organized in 1830.
Newell Stanyan was a carpenter. His sons, Jona- than, David D., Newell, Jr., and James, were all mechanics of ability in their various lines.
The Stanyans had also much musical taste and talent. They were active and prominent in musical circles and as singers and musicians ranked with the leaders in town in the practice and teaching of sing-' ing as well as instrumental music.
Since the matter of music has been introduced it can be stated the town once boasted of a band. This band was regularly incorporated by Act of the Legis- lature of December 6, 1824, in the following language:
"Be it enacted, That True Stevens, Newel Stanyan and John Stevens, their associates and successors, be and hereby
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HISTORY OF WENTWORTH, N. H.
are created a Corporation by the name of the WENTWORTH INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC BAND, with all rights, powers, privileges and immunities appertaining to such corporations under the laws of the State of New Hampshire."
This band no doubt did valiant service on muster days and quite likely at other times.
WENTWORTH MECHANIC ASSOCIATION
About this same period there was another act of incorporation of much interest which runs as follows:
ACT OF DECEMBER 21, 1832
"Be it enacted, etc., That Ebenezer Gove, Elisha Clifford, Reuben Clifford, Edward Gove, Daniel Clark, Jr., Peter Dearborn, John Smart and Seth Ford, their associates and successors are incorporated under above title, for the purpose of benevolence and for promoting useful improvement and knowledge in the Mechanic Arts."
The following sections enabled the association to hold personal and real estate, make, have and use a seal, elect officers and establish by-laws, and that Ebenezer Gove be authorized to call the first meeting.
Mention of the organization in 1830'of the Congre- gational Society has already been made.
There had been for many years in town quite a respectable number who professed the Universalist faith. At one time the followers of these tenets con- stituted a majority of the church-going people in the community.
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THE NEXT THIRTY YEARS, 1820-1850
Due in a large measure to the labors of the Rev. John E. Palmer, a Universalist society was organized in the year of 1837.
Among the leading members of this church can be mentioned Caleb Keith, Esq., John Currier, Samuel Ellsworth, Robert Eames, Wolcott Dana, Winthrop Gove, William Gove, Isaac Clifford, Mrs. Samuel Eames and Widow Susannah Bean.
At this period, an agreement was made between the different societies, by the terms of which each de- nomination used the church on alternate Sundays or on such dates as had been previously agreed upon.
Included in this league, as it may be called, were the Methodists, who for some years had an active society in the town, with preaching at intervals.
In addition to what has already been mentioned, was a society of Free Will Baptists, who had meetings in schoolhouses or sometimes at the houses of the different members. It does not appear that either the Methodists or the Free Will Baptists had at any time a minister regularly settled in the town. The services being conducted usually by preachers who came from elsewhere for the occasion.
The Free Baptist Society finally built on Atwell Hill a good chapel where most of their services in later years were held. This chapel is still standing and is in good condition: it is used from time to time for
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HISTORY OF WENTWORTH, N. H.
church purposes, as occasion requires. During the past summer several services conducted by the Rev. Mr. Sargent being held in this chapel.
After this digression we will mention a few more prominent townsmen of this period. The professional men being described in separate chapters will not be spoken of here.
John F. A. Peabody arrived in town during 1826. He at once began to develop on the South Branch the mill site known later as Colburn's Mills. Peabody was an active and substantial citizen. He was selectman in 1832, 1857 and 1858 and representative in 1840-4I. After running his mills on the South Branch success- fully for some twenty-five years he sold out to the Colburns and moved to the west side of the river where he lived on the place later owned by John Marston and remained on that place apparently dur- ing the rest of his career in town.
William McQuesten, born in 1680, emigrated from the county of Argyle, Scotland to America and died in Litchfield, N. H., in 1769.
A descendant of the first William was William Dan -. forth McQuesten, born in Plymouth, January 15, 1795. He came from Plymouth to Wentworth prob- ably in 1820. Here he was engaged for several years in trade. He was, during the thirty-five years he lived in town, almost constantly in office. He was deputy
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THE NEXT THIRTY YEARS, 1820-1850
sheriff for a long time, selectman in 1838-39 and repre- sentative in 1844-45.
He acted as agent for the town in several law suits, of which the town always seemed to have an ample supply, and as an auditor his name is affixed to a majority of the town accounts for a period of more than twenty years.
When the railroad station was opened in 1851, Mr. McQuesten was appointed the first station agent and held this position until the end of his life.
His wife was Charlotte Haines, a Wentworth woman. They lived in the house facing the village common, now owned by Mrs. Taplin.
Danforth McQuesten, by which name he appears to have been known, when he was not more familiarly spoken of as "Squire Mack," died December 10, 1855.
Of the three children of William Danforth and Charlotte (Haines) McQuesten, one son, William, died in early manhood. The other son, Charles, was for some time and until his death, a partner in the general store of Hammond and McQuesten in the village.
Their daughter Martha, possibly better remem- bered by the present generation as Mrs. Newell Stan- yan, had much musical ability. She for twenty years and more was the capable and efficient organist at the village church and highly regarded by all who knew her.
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HISTORY OF WENTWORTH, N. H.
Charles' son, William Danforth, who bears his grandfather's name, has in recent years been a sub- stantial benefactor to the Village Cemetery Associa- tion as well as mayor of Mount Vernon, N. Y., where he now lives.
Winthrop Gove, son of Capt. Ebenezer Gove, was for thirty years or more a prominent and very useful citizen and saw much service on the board of select- men.
Among other leading men during these years may be mentioned Jonathan Eames, Jr., known famil- iarly as "Bachelor" Eames (although finally married ยท he still kept his title); Aaron Currier, town treasurer for many years and twice representative; Luke Aiken, selectman, representative and finally register of deeds, Grafton County; Fayette and Ferdinand Kezer, Zechariah Clifford, and from Ellsworth Hill, the brothers William and Henry Johnson should at least be mentioned as being of prominence; a grand- son of William Johnson (Rufus Blodgett) became in later years a United States senator from New Jersey, while two more of his grandsons (Henry A. and George K. Webster) are gratefully remembered as the donors of the splendid "Webster Memorial Library."
It seems a pity to close this rambling account without mention of the town's first historian. This
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REVIEW OF THE YEAR 1850
was Simeon Smith, son of Simeon Smith, the pioneer, usually known from his occupation as "Tailor" Smith. He was a little fidgety man who was for many years the chief authority on all matters pertaining to the history of the town and its people. At his death in 1858 he was the oldest man who was born in town.
Part of his history he put in writing some of which is still in existence. The most of it, however, he kept in his head. This part unfortunately passed with him. He helped greatly, however, in preserving much in- formation in regard to the early period of the town's affairs, "All of which, he saw and a part of which, he was."
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