USA > New Hampshire > Rockingham County > Newmarket > Old Newmarket, New Hampshire; historical sketches > Part 6
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Before looking too far away from the beginning of factory days it is well to remember that we are now over a hundred years away from conditions which then pre- vailed. These conditions were not considered hard. The price paid for labor was reasonably satisfactory to all con-
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cerned. Dover and Great Falls had the same industry with the same scale of wages and hours of work. The small amount received for mill labor purchased then, as now, the necessities and some of the luxuries of life. In the first years of the cotton industry here, the employees were New England born. At that time the mode of travel between the countries of the world did not encourage immi- gration. Those who came to New England were mostly English or Celtic people. The cotton industry in New England called many good cotton workers from Old Eng- land, and the great famine in Ireland started immigration to the United States that continued for many years. New- market had her share, and they were good citizens. We are far away from that time; but we should all give some thought to what has been as well as to what now is or may be in the future.
We have a craze for old-fashioned furniture. This should be matched with a familiar understanding of the customs of the period. You are ready to announce the date when your antique table or chair was made. Does that remind you that at that time boys of fourteen years were "bound out" to work for their board and clothes ? When they were twenty-one they were free to get what they could out of life. But think of seven years of life away from the home circle, bound out!
Women of the household had little leisure. Now we seldom think of what we owe to modern machinery and invention. We use our modern conveniences and never give a thought to the hardships of life without them. When sickness comes we telephone for the doctor. Our great-grandmothers were prepared for what might hap-
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pen. Herbs were on hand and their uses were known. The herb chamber was usually located up the back stairs from the scullery. In this unfurnished room hanging from the pegs were bunches of motherwort, thoroughwort, St. John's wort, spearmint, wormwood, mullen, tansy, catnip, yarrow, pennyroyal, sage, bay leaves, witchhazel, slippery elm, goldthread, pirola, lobelia, balm o'gilead buds, snake's head, snake root, blood root, and other roots and herbs. These, with a big bowl of goose oil, were always on hand, and proved as effective as the pellets of the doctors of today. The youngsters might shudder at the sight of the herbs ; but pop corn hanging in traces from the rafters, walnuts spread to ripen on the floor, the store of dried black- berries and blueberries, dried apples and sweet corn, compensated.
It is said that the people of those days were supersti- tious. They certainly were, and traces of it still linger. Even now rapping on wood is well understood. If by a strange chance a horseshoe is found we might be tempted to pick it up just for luck. If the new moon is seen over the right shoulder and you have money in your pocket, you know what to expect. If a mirror is broken its loss is nothing compared to the shock received by the thought of seven years of hard luck. One hundred years ago there seemed to be good or bad omens for every happening. "If you upset a chair or stool, a pigsty will come on your eye." Cures for warts and boils were numerous. "Rub the wart with a copper cent, drop the cent in the road and the one who picks it up will take the boil." Rocking an empty cradle calls a new baby to the house. When a child is born the mother's wedding ring and a silver coin should
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be placed in its first bath; the ring and coin bring honor and wealth. No one must be allowed to pass the baby on its way to the christening; he must have a clear line or folks will always get ahead of him. A child will be ambi- tious if taken to the highest room in the house before he is taken downstairs.
Every town used to have its tailoress, frequently more than one. She took the measure, cut out and made the clothes of the men of the family, boarding where she worked. The town dressmaker or seamstress was also in demand. She went to work early each morning, a yardstick in one hand and a bag of sewing accessories in the other. When she was really in action fitting the figure of her patient victim, in more ways than one she exhibited great skill; for she could talk with ease and apparent safety with her mouth full of pins. If she needed to measure material, the yardstick was unnecessary. From the tip of her nose to the end of her outstretched left hand was one unskimped yard. Recently this same method was used in an emer- gency. A small grandchild, watching curiously, stood near by. Later she came with her doll's sash ribbon and said, "Grandma, will you smell of this and tell how long it is?"
There never was a time within the memory of people now living when women's fashions were as sensible as at present. When our homes were heated by wood-burning stoves or fireplaces, there may have been a necessity for warm clothing; but heavy underwear, woolen stockings, quilted petticoats, pumpkin hoods and trailing skirts did not prevent sickness. The fashion of a slim waist line transformed a naturally good female form into something resembling two syllables of a woman connected at the
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waist line by a hyphen. And men with whiskers! They were everywhere closely resembling Tarzan of the Apes.
In the cholera epidemic of 1848 alarm was general throughout New England. When cases developed here, panic ensued. The doctors were severely taxed with con- stant calls for service. The dead were buried in haste and without ceremony. Many were sick with fright. Symptoms of cholera were prevalent when there was no disease. One night at the height of the panic, Dr. Kit- tredge, exhausted from lack of sleep, went to bed deter- mined to get a few hours rest. He was aroused by a furious pounding and ringing of the door bell. He opened his window and from the darkness a frantic woman called to him: "I am dying of cholera. Oh! Doctor, come quick. I am dying now." He answered "You are hysterical. You are frightened. You are not sick. I will be around in the morning." He closed the window. In the morning he did call early at this woman's door; but the hearse was there receiving her body.
This is an incident of a more heroic type: The death by cholera of a mother and infant child was reported. Their home was on what is now Creighton Street. The hearse driver placed the body of the mother in the hearse. He took the body of the infant in his arms to lay it beside the mother. He hesitated, held the child in the sunlight, and exclaimed "I say she ain't dead!" On the way to the graveyard he repeatedly voiced his conviction that the unconscious child was not dead. He buried the mother, put the child in the hearse and drove to his home. In the care of his wife the child recovered consciousness and health. This foster daughter of Charles Willey was a
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pupil in day and Sunday school for more than seventeen years afterwards, literally brought back from the grave.
Newmarket has had a full quota of eccentric indi- viduals. They have seemed to be a special product of the town. Like circus specialties they give zest to the whole show. We have always been rather boastful of them. They will be remembered and quoted when ordinary folks are forgotten.
THE VILLAGE CHURCHES
One article in the annual town warrant which from earliest times received the support of the citi- zens dropped out after the Revolution. This article, "To see what we shall raise for preaching," was obsolete. New England churches were learning to stand alone finan- cially. With the financial self reliance of the churches came increased piety, generosity and devotion. In New- market there was greater unity of Christian effort among the people. The attendance on the religious services held in the Company's warehouse proved the need of a house built especially for the service of God. The songs of praise that echoed from this riverside warehouse vibrated in the atmosphere of old Lamprey River and prepared the way for the building of the churches. On the seventeenth day of November, 1827, John Brodhead, Seth R. Shack- ford, Benjamin Wheatland, with others interested, met at Branscomb's Inn and agreed to form a society by the name of The First Religious Society of Lamprey River. By that name it was incorporated, notice of which was pub- lished in "The Signs of the Times," a newspaper then printed in Portsmouth. The officers of this society were Benjamin Wheatland, clerk; David Murray, treasurer; with the following committtee of superintendence: John
-
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Brodhead, Seth R. Shackford, Arthur Branscomb, George Robinson, George R. Chase, Dr. George W. Kittredge and Benjamin Battles.
The Manufacturing Company gave land to the west of Murray's Orchard near the top of the hill next to the home of Jewett Tasker, for the proposed new meeting house. Mr. Battles gave his note for $1,304 to secure the building of the meeting house, this sum to be raised by the sale of pews and the assessment of society members.
This meeting house was built and services were held here, but it was not finished for several years. In the records of the annual meetings a vote was taken each year for four years "to paint it on the outside and whitewash it on the inside." At the annual meeting in December, 1832, it was decided by vote to build a vestry twenty by thirty feet, the outside walls to be of brick, to put a portico over each door, to add a number of pews to the body of the house, to whitewash the inside and to paint the outside. All these things were accomplished that year. A few years later blinds were added to the windows, a belfry built, and a bell hung.
On the third day of April, 1855, the First Religious Society of Lamprey River called a special meeting, when they voted to convey by quitclaim deed the meeting house, parsonage and all property belonging to the First Religious Society of Lamprey River to the Methodist Episcopal Church of Newmarket.
Seventeen years later, under the impulse of a religious revival and an ambitious preacher, the old church . on Chapel Street was sold, the Branscomb Inn property was bought, and the old inn removed to a location between
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Brooks Block and Masonic Block. A Methodist Episcopal Church was built on the Branscomb lot. It was originally beautiful in design and finish, but it was only partially paid for. Robbed of its steeple and its beautiful windows, its bell and organ sold, it has lost its sanctity and been trans- formed into a barn-like structure called the Star Theatre.
In the month of February, 1828, Jonathan French, of North Hampton, moderator of the Piscataqua Association of Ministers, wrote to the directors of the Newmarket Manufacturing Company, asking for the gift of a lot of land on which to erect a house of worship of the Congrega- tional denomination. In this letter he states that "The population of Lamprey River Village within a distance of two miles is a little less than thirteen hundred; that it is ascertained by calling on the heads of families that three hundred would be glad to worship with said society; and that for a few weeks past the society has furnished the means of worship. So it is found that the people are will- ing to attend and ardently wish to have this kind of worship continued."
The Company gave the land and the Congregational Church was soon built, not as it stands today. It has been enlarged and, like most of our old New England churches, it has suffered modern changes. Only memory remains of the small paned windows, the exclusive box pews with- doors that fastened with small, steel buttons, the high organ loft opposite the pulpit, the choir seats, the hour- glass that children watched so carefully, the clock on the gallery wall, which we were forbidden to turn our heads to see if it was time for the benediction. We liked best of all to see the folks walk up the aisles. The old folks of
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seventy years ago, church veterans, to these we gave Bible story names. Deacon Moses was a really, truly Moses; Deacon Mathes was Jacob; John Henry Carter was his son, Joseph; the minister was always Pharaoh; the father of Olinthus Doe was Elisha, that man of God who was tor- mented by wicked children shouting at him, "Go up, thou bald head." When the church bell ceased ringing and the organ gave out its first growl it never failed to indicate to us the coming of the two bears from the woods of Bethel to devour the wicked children. It is very good in these days to see a well-preserved, old-fashioned meeting house.
Most of the notes in the old records of this church are interesting. Often they do not denote peaceful conditions or charity toward all. The people were persistent in church attendance; Sunday after Sunday, summer and win- ter the congregation of young and old, rich and poor, gathered from all parts of the town to listen to long pray- ers and longer sermons. When the sands in the pulpit hour-glass ran out, it was promptly reversed. The hymns were chosen to reinforce the sermon. They were solemn reminders of sin, death and hell. Eternal damnation was so familiar a phrase, its power to arouse fear was weakened in mature minds. Children are more easily impressed. In the darkness of night a conscientious, timid child could almost see and feel "the unquenchable fire," especially if assisted by a thunder storm. Every flash of lightning was a warning threat and thunder was the awful voice of Jehovah. The lightning rods on the roof, pointing straight up to the sky, seemed to be there for the sole purpose of showing God just where he could find a disobedient, unprayerful child. Later the church was blessed with
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tuneful songs of hope. Preachers gave less attention to sin and more to salvation. A better religious atmosphere for children prevailed, but always the service was a long one for the children. Crickets or footstools were for the grownups. There was no rest for the short legs that hung helplessly through the long service. Wearing Sun- day clothes was slight compensation.
The old church records were very human documents. It is interesting to know what was expected of a church member one hundred years ago. Difficulties were numer- ous. Family affairs were then inspected and investigated by the church. The deacons were always looking for the trail of the serpent. National questions caused trouble and discord. How could a Garrison Abolishionist and a pro-slavery brother love one another? Well, they didn't.
The Universalist Church Society was formed in 1833. The Company gave land to them for a church on the hill. The directors and stockholders of the mill, many of whom were of that faith, aided in the building of a stone meeting house where Universalist services were held for many years. When this edifice was completed, Church Street, leading from Main Street, was opened to the top of the hill.
The Christian Baptist Society at first used the house at the Plains where Rev. Nathaniel Ewer used to preach; but as their congregation was steadily drifting to New- market Village, it was thought best to move this church building down there. So, many sturdy yoke of oxen drew the old meeting house over the long road to a site nearly opposite the Cheswell graveyard on Main Street. A row of steps to the two entrance doors gave some dignity to
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its appearance. Rev. John Osborne was its first minister. Religious services and town meetings were held here from 1827 to 1836, when it was again subjected to the moving power of yoked oxen. The L of the Joseph A. Filion house on Spring Street is a part of this Baptist meeting house.
In 1835 Rev. Daniel P. Cilley and George W. Dearborn bought of the Newmarket Manufacturing Company a plot of land on Zion's Hill and erected there a large apartment house. This was between Chapel and Church Streets. The basement was finished and furnished as a hall or lec- ture room. It was so used by the Baptist Society until their meeting house was completed on a part of this same lot in 1848.
The Catholic Church held services for a time in a house on Depot Street since known as the John P. Griffin house. The membership of this church at that time were Irish people. As the people of this faith increased the Universalist Church became their property. In 1895 the three story, brick house built in 1729 by Colonel Joseph Smith was sold to the Catholic bishop and a church of that faith stands on the site of the brick house then known as the George W. Kittredge place.
Sixty years ago the science of geology was compara- tively new in town. Our ideas of God were somewhat firmly anchored to the Old Testament story of the crea- tion. At the Methodist Church on the hill a progressive, scholarly preacher was trying to Flood his congregation with more scientific, Chautauquan thought. At this time a professor of geology in one of our colleges came to New- market to give a course of lectures in the vestry of the Congregational Church. His class in geology was small;
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but the Methodist minister was one of this class. He invited the professor to preach from his pulpit the follow- ing Sunday. This invitation was accepted. The church was crowded, for it had been told about town that this man did not believe that the world was made in six days. Everybody wanted to know what he had to say about it. Among the elders there was a strong feeling that this flood of infidelity should be dammed before it wrecked the church. The morning service began in the usual, orderly way; all true believers walked out before the sermon was half over.
One by one the pious people went away. Two by two and sometimes three they sought the door. 'Ere the sermon was complete there was many an empty seat; "Six days was all God needed and no more." It was something of a shock that the records of a rock Should displace the Bible story of six days. No ology like this could ever lead to bliss. The iniquity of Satan it displays.
The following Sunday a full congregation listened to a sermon by their own pastor from the text found in II Corinthians, VI chapter, 13th verse, "I speak as unto my children. Be ye also enlarged."
The town clock on the tower of the Congregational Church was placed there when the church building was modernized and refurnished in 1871, Rev. Isaac C. White, pastor. On September 1 of that year, John Palmer decided to test the public spirit of the town by seeking to raise the required amount of money to purchase a town clock. The subscription book contains 180 names, 100 for $1 subscriptions. The sum paid for the clock was $425. All of this amount was obtained by Mr. Palmer. The clock began striking the hours when the rededication service
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began. The sermon was preached by Rev. Daniel Sanford, the first settled minister to serve the Congregational Society after its organization. His likeness hangs in the vestry of the church.
John Palmer gave his services in the care of the clock until shortly before his death, April 15, 1874. His father, Daniel Palmer, was a deacon in this church until he removed to Salmon Falls in 1848.
STAGE COACH DAYS
The stage for Dover left the office at four o'clock in the afternoon each day, connecting with the stage for Port- land and towns along the route east.
The stage for Boston started from Branscomb's Tav- ern at 8 A. M. each Monday, going by way of Lowell, Wednesday by way of Haverhill and Friday by way of Newburyport. The first stop on the route was at Stinson's Inn two miles from the start, not for relays, but for the convenience of passengers who felt the need of fortifying themselves against the jolting weariness of the journey. Friendly rivalry was keen between the neighbor inn keep- ers, and although the halt was made at Stinson's, passen- gers frequently crossed the road, taking a few more steps to refresh themselves at the old parsonage tavern. Hal- lowed memories may have mellowed libations.
A "Day Call Book," kept at the stage line office in Newmarket in the years 1839 to 1841, is of interest, as it frequently identifies locations and recalls the names of long forgotten residents. In this Call Book strangers are listed as "Gents" and "Ladies;" but residents are easily identified. For example: "One seat for Major Seth Walker at the counting room; one seat at John Speed's near the woods; Benjamin Carter for Lowell; Dr. Priest for Dover;
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Joseph Pindar, No. 26, on the hill; one seat at Tuxbury's 'high as heaven;' Parmelia Murray, Eliza Creighton and Lucy Branscomb, a going to Boston; one seat at Churchill and Folsom's store; George Horn at the Old Ark; Mrs. York at High Street, left side; Vincent Torr on the Hill; Simeon P. Greene, bound east; Deacon Palmer, over the bridge; three seats at Dr. Blodgett's; two seats at Edmund French's; three seats at John Burley's; two seats for Lynn jail, nobody else going; two seats at Thomas Willey's; one seat for man over Miles Durgin's store; one seat at Brad- street French's; Blind Kenniston, Lubberland Road, first house right side; Columbus Warren for Boston; Thomas Cheswell and lady for Exeter; Eben Joy's house, Lee Road, two seats; one seat at Seth Shackford's, stop stage at foot of the hill; two seats at D. Cilley's; one for Timothy Mur- ray; two at Ben. Mathes'; two seats at Joseph H. Tebbets'; one seat at Gus. Bradford's ; Charles Branscomb for Lowell; John Garland for Newburyport-not a goin'; Madison Chapman for Newfields; Joseph Elkins for Exeter." This book is well filled with names. In it "The Old Ark" is frequently mentioned, but its location and ownership are past finding out. Evidently it was a boarding house-so was Noah's Ark.
FIRE ENGINES
In October, 1823, obtaining an insurance policy for Number One Mill, the directors of the Newmarket Manu- facturing Company stated: "We keep a good watch; we have a full company of engine men, a tub engine, a line of hose, axes and about one hundred good leather buckets." This statement definitely settles the date of the first engine company in Newmarket. This engine was known as The Ever Ready, but it was familiarly known as The Coffee Mill. At that time it was considered as quite up to date. It could not have been very effectual in quenching a fire that had gained much headway. The tub had to be filled and kept full for the hose to be of use. The buckets were used to fill the engine's tub and for fighting inside fires at close range.
The town depended upon the fire fighting equipment of the Newmarket Manufacturing Company from 1823 to 1852. In March of that year an article in the town war- rant was "To see if the town will vote to buy a fire engine." This received an affirmative vote. A committee was appointed for this purpose, and one thousand dollars appro- priated. The committee consisted of Agent John Webster, Dr. George W. Kittredge, and Joseph Taylor. The engine was purchased. A town fire engine company was organized
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to be known as Tiger Engine Company No. 1, with thirty- six men, Thomas Willey, senior, captain. Tiger Engine Hose Company numbered six men.
In 1858 the Company's "Everready" with twenty-nine members re-organized as "Granite Engine No. 2." At this time the Manufacturing Company had replaced the old engine with a new, up-to-date hand brake machine.
In "Rockingham Records," Vol. 361, Page 412, dated December 9, 1853, is an indenture between John Webster as agent of the Newmarket Manufacturing Company and Samuel Plummer Dow, Benjamin F. Haley and John S. Bennett, a committee appointed by the town of Newmarket in behalf of said town, in which said Webster leases to the town of Newmarket "a certain lot of land near the Brick Schoolhouse in said Newmarket on the road leading from Newmarket Factory to Lee, bounded southerly on said road, 18 feet; and carrying the width of 18 feet northerly to the rear, the same being the premises on which said town by their said committee have recently erected an engine house, to have and to hold the same to the said town for the term of twenty years from the date hereof, said town paying therefor the rent of one dollar, and to quit and deliver up the premises to said Company peace- ably and quietly at the expiration of the term aforesaid; providing that if at any time said premises shall be occu- pied for any other purpose than an engine house, the said Company or their assigns may enter upon the premises and expel the leasee, and this instrument shall be to all intents and purposes null and void."
THE BIG FIRE
In these days the sound of the fire gong does not startle the community as did the rapid ringing of the village bells and the frightful cries of Fire! Fire! which occa- sionally aroused Newmarket in the past. Now, we hear the gong, count the strokes, and, perhaps, with more curiosity than interest, we locate the fire. Then we leave it to the fire department with implicit faith that they and the insurance company will quench the fire and adjust the loss.
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