USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > Wilton > History of the town of Wilton, Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, with a genealogical register > Part 18
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FIRES, FLOODS AND CASUALTIES.
$1600; S. K. Foster, tin ware, loss 83000. insured for $1500; A. H. Smith, jewelry. loss 8500. insured for 8300; S. B. Cotton. owner of the stable, loss $2000, insured for $1000; Ramsay & Blanchard, apples, loss $700. F. P. Kent also lost several hundred dollars' worth of property. A large amount of valuables was stored in the basement and upper story of Ram- say's building. all of which was burned. The fire doubtless originated from an over-heated stove in Spalding's office, and was purely accidental. The fire must of necessity eripple the industry of the town, but Wilton pluck is manifesting itself in the erection of new buildings on the burned territory.
FRESHIET.
The greatest flood ever known in Wilton took place on Monday, October 4, 1869. Rain had fallen on Sunday and Sunday night. and on Monday forenoon, but no apprehensions of a very high freshet were felt until noon, when the windows of Heaven seemed to be opened and poured down sheets of water such as had never been seen before. In a very short time the streams rose to a fear- ful height, sweeping away bridges, dams, logs and mill stuff, mills and factories, gullying roads, and flooding fields and meadows. Brooks became raging mountain rivers. Torrents swept down the hills. A cloud seemed to have burst over the devoted region. It continued to pour until half-past three o'clock in the afternoon, when the storm broke away and the sun came out. Only one bridge in town escaped injury. Roads were impassable for weeks. Trav- ellers were obliged to cross the fields and to ford streams. The woollen factory at French Village was undermined and swept down stream. The cost to Wilton of repairing roads and bridges was $60,000. In consideration of the loss. ten thousand dollars of taxes were remitted to the town by the county of Hillsborough. Other towns suffered from the flood. Permanent marks were left in the hills and valleys by the terrible deluge of 1869.
PECUNIARY LOSSES.
Many business misfortunes have from time to time fallen upon the inhabitants. The Daniels defalcation sunk from $80,000 to $100,000. The Milford Bank robbery cost the people of the town about $10,000. By the failure of the Pine Valley Company the owners lost about $60,000, and grocers and other traders suffered from bad debts contracted by the operatives.
LOSSES BY LIGHTNING.
A barn belonging to Mr. Wood, on the place now owned by Mrs. C'. Blood, was struck by lightning and consumed, in the evening of
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HISTORY OF WILTON.
August 9, 1779. The old meeting-house was struck by lightning July 20. 1804, and one of the centre posts at the east end was split from top to bottom. About the year 1837, in June, the barn of Mr. Simeon Holt was struck by lightning and burned, and on Au- gust 27. 1845. the barn. corn-barn and shed of Mr. David Whiting. In the latter instance. one hundred tons of hay, a large quantity of barley, farming tools and a wagon were destroyed. In August. 1859, the lightning strnek a rock-maple tree in the pasture of Mr. Samuel Sheldon, and killed six cows. July 11. 1876, the house of Mr. James HI. Holt at the West Village was struck, and his wife. Mrs. Lucy Il. Holt, was instantly killed. June 28. 1879, the house of Mr. Charles E. Barrett was struck. Mr. Charles II. Burns, who had just entered the house, was wounded in the face by flying splint- ers, and the health of Miss Jennie Barrett was seriously impaired by the shock. In the summer of 1886 the lightning killed a valua- ble cow belonging to Mr. Henry N. Blanchard of Wilton C'entre.
CASUALTIES.
On September 25, 1798, as Captain Samnel Greele was riding on horseback from his home in the southwest part of the town to attend a publie meeting at the Centre, he was struck from his horse by a tree blown over by the high wind, and was killed. The accident occurred on the road between Mr. Russell's and Mr. Livermore's. The sons of the deceased, Deacon Samuel Greele, of Boston. and AAugustus Greele, of New York. erected. by the side of the road. a marble monument, enclosed by an iron fence, and bearing a suita- ble inscription.
At the raising of the house of JJohn Dale, one of the early settlers of the town, a man was instantly killed by an iron bar accidentally falling on his head from the hands of a man above him on the frame. As already related, there were five men killed and nearly fifty wounded at the raising of the frame of the old meeting-house. Some died in consequence, and others bore the marks of their in- juries as long as they lived. On April 5, 1879, Mr. George Blanch- ard, while at work at Whiting & Sons' saw-mill, was severely wounded in the foot by the circular saw, and amputation was aft- erward required. As mentioned before in the account of the Grand Army Post of Wilton. one of its members. Mr. Hurley, was sud- denly killed by an accident while engaged in sledding wood.
CHAPTER XX.
TEMPERANCE, HYGIENE, EPIDEMICS, LONGEVITY, AND MOR- TALITY.
Before the Revolutionary war the habits of country people, the early settlers, were simple and temperate. Ardent spirits were used moderately, but chiefly on public and social occasions. We have already taken note of the bountiful supply, provided by a vote of the town, for the raising of the frame of the meeting-house in 1773, and it was not unreasonably supposed that it was one of the principal causes of the terrible disaster at that time. At funerals, at weddings, at ministers' meetings, at town meetings, at balls and parties, it was customary to treat with some kind of spirituous liq- uors. Yet in spite of this enstom temperance was the general rule. But the war of the Revolution made some change in the public mor- als. Drinking, smoking and the use of profane language increased. The army is not a school of morality or of religion. Society, as population and wealth increased, became more luxurious in its tastes, and the old hardy virtues gave way. Then as the orchards were planted and came to maturity, cider, the native wine of New England, became a common beverage. It was a common saying that a cider drunkard was more cross and unbearable than any other.
In the course of time a new feature was introduced among the farming population, the distillation of cider, producing what was called cider brandy or apple-jack. This was thought to be a wise economy, to turn the old hard cider in the farmer's cellar into this fascinating beverage. For the time being it gave quite a backset to habits of sobriety and the cause of temperance. But gradually a reaction took place, and it was seen that this domestic alcohol was the same old enemy under a new name.
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HISTORY OF WILTON.
As the old orchards of native fruit decayed and broke down, choice grafts were introduced, and apples began to be sold as an important article of exportation. Apples at home came more into use as a healthful article of diet. Cider mills and cider distilla- tion have gone comparatively out of date, and drunkenness by the use of cider is virtually a thing of the past.
The Wilton Temperance Society, organized in 1834, numbered in 1839 between 300 and 400 members, but the pledge of the mem- bers was only to abstain from the use of alcoholic liquors. Since that time total abstinence societies have been formed, and a large number of members have been enrolled. Union temperance meetings are held monthly at the different churches, and the pastors and mem- bers are active in the work of reform. The sale of all intoxicating liquors is prohibited in the town of Wilton, and there is no place where they are legally sold. But that this law, like other good laws, is not perfectly obeyed is well known, and no evil can be ab- solutely extinguished even in the most Christian and civilized com- munities.
The change in the drinking usages of country communities is something wonderful. Whereas formerly liquors were in every- day use, now they are an unknown article in most families except for medical or mechanical purposes. They do not habitually pass the lips of the young, and drunkenness as a town vice is unknown. A passage like the following, taken from a former storekeeper's ac- counts, could not now find a place in any Wilton ledger. Here is the record of one month to one man :
1817, part of April and May. To goods, $1.58; to 1 gill, .06; 1 gill, .06; 1 gill, .06; 1 gill, .06; 1 glass, .03; ¿ mug toddy, .06; gill sling, .06: ¿ glass, .05; 1 glass, .06; 1 glass. . 03; 1} glass of gin, .06; 4 glasses of gin, .16: 1} glass W. Indies rum. . 06: 1} do., do., .06; to one glass, .04 : ¿ mug. . 08 ; glass, .03; 1} glass. . 05: 1 qt. N. E. rum, .19; 1} glass, .05.
One hundred and thirty-one cents for drinks, and one hundred and fifty-eight cents for other goods !
But apart from any temporary customs or habits unfavorable to health, on the whole the town is noted for its sound hygienic con- ditions. Simplicity of life, agricultural and mechanical pursuits, exemption from the luxury of wealth and the extreme hardships of poverty, freedom from malaria, and a tonic climate have served to produce a hardy and long-lived people. In no community can we find the conditions of longevity better fulfilled than in Wilton and
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LONGEVITY.
other New England towns. If we include all classes and occupa- tions no people are better fed, better clothed and better lodged, to promote physical well-being. Particular classes in other countries may enjoy better hygienic conditions, but not the whole population. It will be our own fault, then, if the rate of mortality is not the low- est, and the average of longevity, the highest.
EPIDEMICS.
Seldom has Wilton been visited by any of those fatal epidemies which sometimes almost depopulate a community. Rev. Thomas Beede in " A Topographical and Historical Description of Wilton," in Farmer & Moore's Collections, volume 1, No. 2, says :
No uncommon sickness has ever been known here except in the year 1801. when a very malignant and contagious fever prevailed very gener- ally among the people for a number of months and in many cases proved mortal. It is conjectured, perhaps not without reason. that the contagion was introduced in a parcel of old feathers, which had been brought in and sold by peddlers, just before the fever made its appearance.
The small pox has made its appearance at several times, but, owing to careful measures of precaution, it has not spread to any great extent. Mrs. David Cram died of this disease in 1853 or 1854.
LONGEVITY.
Owing to the causes above stated the longevity of the town has been remarkable. In 1880 Wilton had 1747 inhabitants ; 107 of them, or about six per cent., had reached the age of seventy years. In a carefully prepared list, taken by Mr. Sewall Putnam from the public records of the town, it appears that from 1791 to 1884 one hundred and twenty-nine persons have died between the ages of eighty and ninety years. During the same period twenty-five per- sons have died between the ages of ninety and one hundred years, namely :
Daniel Batchelder died May 19. 1816, aged 96: Mrs. Mary Burnham. January 7. 1828, aged 92; Mrs. Susannah Gage. May 3. 1831. aged 90: Mrs. Rebecca Burton, August 17, 1831, aged 92: Mrs. Elizabeth Dascomb. October 10, 1832, aged 93: Mr. Samuel Sheldon, December 24. 1832, aged 92; Mrs. Sarah French, January 25, 1833, aged 94: Mrs. Mary JJohnson. April 24. 1834. aged 91, and her husband, Ephraim Johnson, December 27, 1834, aged 92. This couple had lived together in married life 69 years. Mrs. Hannah Morgan, April 30, 1839, aged 92; Mrs. Huldah Burton, Sep- tember 15. 1839, aged 94; Mrs. Mary Spalding, November 19, 1839, aged 90; Mrs. Mary Flint, May 26, 1844, aged 90; Mr. Ephraim Woodward,
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HISTORY OF WILTON.
February 8. 1859, aged 90: Mr. Joseph Melendy. August 12, 1863, aged 01 ; Mrs. Stephen Mansur, May 11. 1865. aged 91: Mrs. Sarah Center. October 27, 1867, aged 93: Mrs. Imney Burton. April 11. 1874. aged 91; Captain David Wilson, October 16. 1875, aged 96: Deacon Abel Fisk, September 25, 1877. aged 93: Mrs. Esther D. Holt, January 28. 1878, aged 97: Mrs. Bathsheba Richardson, July 18. 1878, aged 90: Mr. Joseph Newell, Feb- ruary 17, 1881, aged 90; Deacon Joseph Smith, March 16, 1883, aged 94: Sophia Blanchard, October 16, 1884, aged 90.
One centenarian, Mrs. Sarah A. Holt. reached the age of one hundred and three years, two months and twenty-five days, and de- ceased October 9. 1854.
MORTALITY.
The number of deaths in Wilton was, in 1851. 20; 1852, 20; 1853. 26: 1854, 27; 1855, 20; 1856. no record; 1857. 26; 1858, 26: 1859, 25; 1860, 25; 1861, 16: 1862. 22; 1863. 10; 1864, 27 : 1865. 25: 1866, 15: 1867. 14: 1868, 19; 1869, 31; 1870. 34; 1871, 31; 1872, 10: 1873, 26: 1874, 25; 1875, 31: 1876. 24; 1877, 19: 1878, 29: 1879, 34: 1880, 25: 1881, 23; 1882, 22: 1883, 24; 1884, 38.
The population of Wilton was, in 1850, 1161; 1860, 1369 ; 1870, 1974: 1880, 1747 ; average of population, 1565. The yearly average of deaths for the thirty-three years given above is 25.7; the average number of deaths to each thousand of inhabitants, about 16.4.
CHAPTER XXI.
BURIAL PLACES AND CEMETERIES.
Besides the four cemeteries at present in Wilton, namely, the North, South, East and County Farm cemeteries, there are four private burial places where a few bodies have been interred.
The first of these is the grave of John Badger, the first white person who died on the territory now included in Wilton. Its exact locality is not known, but an intelligent informant states that it is " a little north of the road running east from the Dale place, either in the field or the pasture, probably in the pasture." Philip Put- nam, Esq., a few years before he died, built a tomb near his house, in which he, his wife and his two sons were buried. Lieut. John Hutchinson, his wife and two sons were buried in the lot back of his house in the East village. Mrs. David Cram, who died of small pox in 1853 or 1854, was buried on the farm belonging to the family.
NORTH, OR VALE END. CEMETERY.
The following measures were early taken by the town to provide suitable interment for the dead :
June 27, 1771, Voted, to raise £1 16s. to provide a burying eloth for said town and chose Nathan Blanchard and Abner Stiles a committee to pro- vide said cloth.
The first allusion to the burying ground in the town records is found in a warrant for a town meeting, dated September 17, 1772, of which article fifth reads as follows :
To see if the town will vote to clear and fence the burying ground in said town, and to raise money, and choose a committee for that purpose.
At the meeting held October 5, the fifth article was dismissed. In a warrant for a town meeting, dated May 20, 1773. is the fol- lowing :
Whereas Mr. John Cram proposes to make a present of one-half of an
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HISTORY OF WILTON.
aere of land for a burying place for said town, this is, therefore, Fourth- ly, to see if the town will pay Mr. John Cram eighteen shillings. L. money, for one other half acre of land, adjoining the old burying place in said town, and for a privilege of a road or highway to the same on his giving a conveyance of the same.
At a meeting, held June 3, 1773, it was voted to allow Mr. John Cram eighteen shillings L. M. for one-half acre of land, adjoining the old bury- ing place in said town, and the privilege of a highway to the same upon his giving conveyance of the same.
It appears from the subsequent action of the town that the fore- going vote was not carried into effect, for, at a town meeting held December 5, 1780, the following votes were passed :
Put to see if the Town will purchase Land for a Burying Yard and Fence the same : it passed in the affirmative.
Voted, to Fence with Stone Wall.
Voted, to chuse a Committee of five men to Purchase and Fence said Yard. Messrs. Jonathan Burton, Joseph Holt, Abner Stiles, Jacob Put- nam Jun. and Nathan Ballard were chosen for said committee.
Voted, that said Committee clear said Yard and make a road to the same.
The above vote is the last found relative to the old burying yard.
The road was eight or ten rods west of where the gate now is. The northeast corner of the first yard was a short distance north- easterly from the grave-stones of Mr. John Dale, Sen., and wife. The gate was near where the remains of Rev. Warren Burton and family are interred. The original yard was in the south part of lot No. 14, in the fifth range, and contained but little more than an acre. With the exception of John Badger, it is not known that any person was buried in any other part of Wilton until 1809, sev- enty years after the first settlement. In 1817 the land lying north, between the burying ground and the highway, was taken in and di- vided into lots. The bank wall from near Mr. Peabody's house to the gate was built by Messrs. John J. Holt and Hermon Batchelder. Papers found in the " Old Chest" show that the town paid for the wall, gate posts, wooden gate and labor for lotting, 876.10.
At the annual town meeting in March, 1869, it was
Voted, that the town purchase of Charles HI. Burns about two acres of land adjoining the north burying ground for enlarging the same.
Voted, that a committee of three be chosen to procure a deed of the land to be purchased, and see that the same is enclosed and lotted ont, and a plan of the same made, and also to appraise the lots and note the price on the plan. Moses Clark. Asa Stiles and Sewall Putnam were chosen to act as said committee.
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CEMETERIES.
Soon after this last annexation to the cemetery, Mr. Andrew N. Burton interested himself in raising the means for improving the North cemetery. Mr. Burton, Mr. Benjamin Baker, Hon. Isaac Spalding of Nashua and IIon. S. G. Mack of Lowell, each sub- scribed fifty dollars, and many others who had friends interred there contributed liberally in labor. An organization was formed, and was in existence until the grounds were much improved. At the annual meeting of the town in 1871 it was voted that the bury- ing ground at the north part of the town be known as the " Vale End Cemetery."
On a small slate head-stone, in the northeast part of the old burying ground, is the following inscription ; "Here lies ye body of Phebe Cram, ye Daughter of M' John and Mrs Sarah Cram, who died Ags ye 29th A. D. 1752 being 19 days old."
It is the earliest date found on any stone in the yard, and the death is the first in Wilton (except Mr. Badger's) of which we have found a record.
SOUTII CEMETERY.
The town bought between two and three acres lying on the east side of the highway leading from the Centre to the south part of the town, and situated in the south part of lot No. 10 in the fifth range. It was fenced with wall and lotted, and the first body buried there was that of Rev. Jonathan Livermore, who died July 20,1809.
At the annual town meeting in 1876 the town voted to raise the sum of three hundred dollars to enlarge and improve the South and Vale End cemeteries, and authorized the selectmen to appoint agents to expend the sum. About two and one-fourth acres, lying east of the South cemetery, were purchased of Mr. Henry Gray for fifty dollars : the deed was dated October 18, 1876. The remainder of the appropriation was expended in improving the South and Vale End cemeteries.
EAST CEMETERY.
Mr. Leonard Pettengill and Mr. Elbridge F. Perkins purchased a traet of land, forming the southeast part of lot No. 12 in the second range. It was lotted out for a burial ground September 4, 1854, and the next day Mrs. Hannah W. Spalding, wife of Mark N. Spalding, Esq., was interred there, and Rev. E. N. Ilidden, then of Milford, performed a dedicatory service. Soon after the sur- vey of the Pettengill and Perkins lot, Mrs. Samuel Spalding had a
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HISTORY OF WILTON.
lot, which joined that on the south, surveyed and divided into lots. These persons sold lots as they were called for until most of them were disposed of. The first mention of the East cemetery to be found in the town records, is in the following article of the warrant for the annual town meeting of 1864 : "To see if the town will ac- cept of the graveyard near the premises of Mrs. Samuel Spalding as a town burying yard, and keep the same properly fenced and cared for."
At the meeting the town
Voted, that a committee of three be chosen to see what action is need- ed to be taken by the town in reference to a public burying ground at East Wilton and to report at the next town meeting.
Voted, that the committee be appointed by the chair; the chair ap- pointed Moses Clark, Benjamin T. Foster and Ezra Bales as said commit- tee.
At a meeting held November 4, 1864, the town, after hearing the report of the committee chosen at the annual meeting,
Voted, to instruct said committee in behalf of the town of Wilton to purchase the amount of land of Mrs. Samuel Spalding and Mr. Henchman Sylvester as recommended by the committee appointed at the last meet- ing, also to fence the yard now occupied and the addition recommended.
Voted, also, that said committee be authorized to survey, prize and dispose of the lots.
The land enclosed in the Vale End, South and East cemeteries amounts to about sixteen acres.
Immediately after the county took possession of the Whiting farm, the county commissioners located on lot No. 20, in the eighth range, a lot for a burial ground for the use of the County Poor Farm.
CHAPTER XXII.
MILITIA AND FIRE DEPARTMENT.
An act was passed by the New Hampshire Legislature, December 27, 1772, by which the militia of the state was organized, and the 22d Regiment was thus designated :
The companies in the towns of New Ipswich, Sharon and Mason shall constitute the first battalion, the companies in the towns of Peterborough, Temple and Wilton shall constitute the second battalion, which shall constitute the 22ª Regiment .*
The act organized twenty-seven regiments in the state. Philip Putnam of Wilton was appointed Colonel of the 22d Regiment ; Jonathan Burton was Captain, Edward Herrick First Lieutenant, and Jacob Putnam Second Lieutenant of one company in Wilton. Whether the other company was organized at that time, or who its first officers were, we have been unable to learn, but the letter from the selectmen to Colonel Wheeler, given below, shows that, in 1798, there were two companies in Wilton, commanded by Captain William Bales and Captain William Pettengill. The line, dividing the town for the two companies, commenced at the Milford line on the old County road, continued on that road to Baker's corner, thence by the Davis place and Gardner Blanchard's to the old com- mon, thence on the old Temple road by Moses Lovejoy's, George Parkhurst's, Rosalvo Smith's and Abner N. Holt's to the intersec- tion of the roads at the Temple line, at the corners of lots No. 11 and No. 12 in the ninth range. Those on the north of the above described roads constituted the third company, those on the south constituted the seventh company, of the 22d Regiment. The
* Subsequently Lyndeborough was added to the regiment .- [S. Putnam.
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HISTORY OF WILTON.
following copy of a communication to Colonel Abijah Wheeler was found in one of the " Old Chests : "
Sir, Whereas you did on, or about. the 29th day of November last issue your orders, to the two Captains of the Militia in the town of Wilton di- reeting them to raise, arm and equip twenty-nine men, officers included, being their proportion of one hundred and eleven men called for out of your Regiment : That the said Captains Bayles and Pettengill did, on the 29th day of March last. assemble their companies at the meeting-house in said Wilton. for the purpose of raising said men, and did, by the as- sistance of said town, raise the number called for agreeable to your orders : and whereas said town apprehends themselves greatly injured by the large proportion laid upon them, have passed a vote, directing the sub- seribers hereof to inform you that they are always willing to furnish out their just proportions of men, and bear an equal burden of public charges with their fellow Citizens, but, as they find their proportion to be so much larger than what it was in the last requisition,* or what have been called for in other towns, they wish you to make inquiry into the matter, if our Captains have made unlawful returns, by returning those that are six- teen years old and upwards to the age of forty years, as they expect the law of this State requires, they wish to have the matter explained, or if other Captains have made unlawful returns, we wish to have the matter explained also ;- Therefore, Sir, if you see cause to make inquiry into the matter and find the disproportion has arisen from ummiform returns in your Regiment, we hope you will take such measures as that our griev- anees may be redressed and the minds of the people in this part of your Regiment once more set at ease: And further if you see cause to gratify our request we wish you to inform us the first opportunity.
Wilton, April 4th 1798. Colo Abijah Wheeler.
This. Sir, is from your most obedient and hunble servants,
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