USA > New Hampshire > Rockingham County > Newmarket > Old Newmarket, New Hampshire; historical sketches > Part 8
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INCIDENTS AND A MAP
In the years before the Civil War Fourth of July cele- brations were of much consequence in Newmarket. The day was ushered in by the ringing of bells, the firing of cannon, the persistent explosion of fire crackers and the use of other noise making contraptions. At sunrise the "horribles" paraded the streets, escorted by the calli- thumpian band. At ten o'clock the parade started from the Town Hall for the picnic ground on Pigeon Hill. The fire companies in uniform, the school children dressed in white, a long line of citizens on foot, with carryalls, chaises, buggies and democrat wagons bringing up the rear, the Star Spangled Banner much in evidence. This procession was escorted by the Newmarket Brass Band, led by a drum major of superlative and spectacular action, a large, heavily whiskered man, who wore with distinction his resplendent uniform and huge bearskin cap. Leading his marching men with frequent backward dancing steps while spinning his ballcapped staff in air and dexterously catching it in time to martial music, he was the observed of all observers.
The vehicles were left in the open pasture where the line reformed and marched up the winding wooded road to the top of the hill. Under the tall pines the long tables
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were spread, gaily trimmed with evergreens and summer flowers. The most appreciated decoration was the plenti- ful supply of cookies, cakes, doughnuts and pies furnished by the generous women of the village, and supplemented by lemonade and mead. For the children there were peanuts, juju paste and sticks of striped candy. Ice cream was an unheard of dainty.
After refreshments the ministers and town orators held forth. Then came singing by the children, and the reading of the Declaration of Independence. Gradually the crowd dispersed, usually hastened by a thunder shower.
A map made after 1817 and before 1823 gives a good idea of the dwellings along the main road from Wentworth Cheswell's to Picked Rock Bridge. The Jesse N. Carpenter house stands on the site of the house of Wentworth Ches- well. There was no other house on that side of the road to Moonlight Bridge. Pasture land, a small pond by the roadside, a thick growth of birch, young pines, highbush blueberries and tangled vines filled the intervening space to the Piscassic River. Paul Chapman was a neighbor to the Cheswells. His house is still standing in good condition at the junction of the Packers Falls and Lee Roads. From this point extending towards the village on the north side of the road was a thick grove of walnut and oak trees on the estate successively owned by Colonel Joseph Smith and his heirs, Benjamin Mead, Wentworth Cheswell, Benjamin Lovering, Newmarket Manufacturing Company, Dr. George W. Kittredge, Charles H. Smith, and the Catholic Church. At the foot of the brick house garden was the home of J. Chapman. Later this house was the home of Hon. Will- iam B. Small. A one-story schoolhouse stood in the cor-
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ner of the present primary school yard; a small store stood beside it. Widow Mead lived at the foot of the great ledge.
In former shipbuilding days the rope walk was in operation between this house and the ledge. The rope walk building is still standing. The house on the map marked "Widow Mead" was owned then or a year later by William Tenney, Esquire. The house next to Widow Mead's is marked "B. Langley." This was later the Dr. Folsom house. On that side of the main street there was no other house between Widow Mead's and the Branscomb store and house, where now Brisson's store and the Star Theatre is. N. Gillis was the nearest neighbor to Branscomb. On what is now Chapel Street, not far from the main road, was the home of Widow Murray. Then came Cram's shop, the house of A. W. Doe, many years later the Willey Hotel, and of Betsy Smith; D. Cram's house and shop were at the roadside near the river at the foot of the hill, and his nearest northerly neighbor was Wiggin Doe. On the south side of the main road the Sias farm extended from Paul Chapman's field, where True E. Smith's house stands, to and including, the Eben Joy place now owned by Joseph H. Sopel. The last of the Sias family in Newmarket were two sisters, one of them blind. They lived in a one-story weatherworn cottage where the Agent's house is now, but nearer the road. The Sias family graves are near Solon's Brook on this estate. The family of Daniel Meader lived in a dwell- ing the counterpart of the Sias house and their near neigh- bor. There were no other houses on the south side of the road except a little shop owned by J. Smart on the site of Griffin's hardware store. In a short time this location was to acquire the name of Tenney's Corner. The next house
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was J. Doe's with his store beside it, behind the present Town Hall on the old River Road. Elm Tree Wharf was next to Doe's store. Then came G. Cram's house and shop. The saw mill of Ebenezer Smith was near the falls, Wiggin Doe's house at top of the hill.
On this map, made before 1823, the old fulling mill, grist mill, saw mill, carpenter shop, the Ben Savage house, the houses of Wiggin Doe and Pindar and the locations on Main Street above mentioned are plainly marked.
Over the creek on what is now Creighton Street there were two small bridges connecting with the main River Road. A house and store, unnamed, stood near the second bridge; then, N. Young's house and wharf. Two more wharves are indicated on the map, but not named.
At the beginning of the Civil War the following per- sons were engaged in business on Main Street: J. S. & E. Bennett, hardware, wholesale and retail, with several tin peddler carts on the road; John S. Bennett of this firm was noted for his wit and good nature and as the successful organizer of indecisive voters; Z. Dow Creighton, groceries and general supplies; John M. Towle, general store and custom tailor; Nathan H. Harvey, tailor shop and grocery store; John Henry Carter, jewelry, and lending library; B. F. Haley, dry goods, afterwards removed to his tailor shop, street floor ; B. F. Tuttle, hotel.
On the other side of the street, commencing at the ledge: William W. Stackpole, restaurant, confectionery and fancy goods; Mathes' stone store, groceries; Constantine B. Mathes, dry goods; Joseph R. Doe, for many years tax collector and side line fish dealer. His place of business was under the stairs leading to his dwelling house close by,
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and level with the sidewalk. He was within hailing dis- tance of all delinquent taxpayers. "Pay your tax or go to jail" was his startling and oft-repeated warning. He was an honest and valuable tax collector. Next to the Joseph R. Doe house was the Pendergast drug store. In the next building a restaurant was kept by Charles French, who had an eagle in a big cage on his side piazza, a great attraction for school children. The next building was William Thompson's hardware store; then a little back from the road was the old Furber Tavern. B. F. Haley's tailor shop stood at the corner of Main and Church Streets. What was formerly the old Branscomb Tavern stood between Haley's tailor shop and the boot and shoe store of William and George French. On the north side of the same building was the millinery store of Mrs. Mary Badger. She brought from Boston for use in her store the first win- dow screens in town. They were of thin cloth with a land- scape printed on them. One could see out, but no one could look in. Beyond Chapel Street was the brick block in which was a drug store and the Newmarket Bank. Sam- uel A. and B. F. Haley occupied the next building as a grocery store. Perley W. Tenney's variety store stood between Haley's grocery and the post office, Jonathan Gar- land, postmaster for many years, until ill health compelled him to retire. Next to the post office, but back from the road, was The Washington House, a popular and prosperous hotel, conducted by Major Henry H. Smith, then well known as a horseman. In the narrow brick building was Mrs. Mary A. Wood's millinery store. David and Howard Marston kept a shoe store at the corner of Main and Central Streets. Scattered here and there along Main Street were saloons of no benefit to the town.
THE EIGHTEEN SIXTIES
For many years after the Civil War what might be called headquarters were maintained for each political party. The Republicans congregated at the northerly part of Main Street under favorable conditions and popular leaders. Naturally the Democrats drifted southerly to the capacious store of J. S. & E. Bennett. At each place voters not over strong in party allegiance were cordially welcomed. Trading votes for merchandise, liquid or solid, was regular business and always in order. Plans for town meeting were carefully made. Slight chance had the opposing party to capture votes already bargained for. So keen were both parties to secure these doubtful voters that before election day dawned each one was anchored and kept afloat under the care of a reliable pilot until all votes were cast and the polls closed.
These degenerate voters, like the old army of tramps, seemed to have been an aftermath of the Civil War. Later laws have given to us a town meeting day that surely would cause an old time Newmarket voter to think that the "day of the Lord" had come. Not a "saloon" in town ! No drunken men on the street! Women in the Town Hall voting with the men, and everything orderly and quiet! "Say not that the former times were better than these."
A map well made, but without date, gives a good idea
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of the dwellings along Main Street. The dwelling house of "Widow Cheswell" appears; so we know the map was made after 1817, the year Wentworth Cheswell died. It has the old landmarks at the Lower Falls and along the road as it then ran by the wharves at the riverside. Therefore, it must have been made before 1823 when the Manufacturing Company began building activities there. This map was found with waste papers in the basement of a public build- ing in a neighboring town, and was given to me by the person who rescued it. It is the oldest map I have seen showing so much of Lamprey River Village. Evidently it was drawn for use in a petition to straighten the high- way from Picked Rock Bridge to Neal's Tavern, changing it from the east to the west side of Pine Hill. The distance was not greatly shortened.
It has been my intention to keep well within the shadow of the years before the Civil War. If I have not held strictly to this the violations have been trivial. I hope I have revived memories of Old Newmarket in the minds of old residents wherever they may be. To repeat: "It is important to look backward as well as forward." Looking forward is essential to success. Looking back- ward we may estimate values and benefit by experience.
Sixty-six years ago our town records were destroyed by fire, except a record of the pastorate of Rev. John Moody, three town warrants relating to ship yards, and a few notes about the Revolutionary War.
All the incidents about Newmarket told to me by people who were old when I was young, are gathered here, and I offer them as a mixed lot of historical berries picked from the vines of forgotten years.
THE END.
INDEX
A
Adams, Samuel, 45, 46
B Badger, Mrs. Mary, 126
Baker, Henry, 109
Battles, Benjamin, 94, 108
Bell, George, 39 Bennett, John S., 104, 118, 125, 127
Bunker, Ingalls, 120
Burley, John, 13, 21, 53, 102
Burley, Joseph C., 121
Burley, Moses, 53
Burley, Nancy, 53
Burley, Peter, 53
Burrows, Rev., 41
Butler, Dr. J. D., 58
C
Bennett, J. S. and E., 118, 125, Carpenter, Jesse, N., 55, 123 127
Blay, Ruth, 16
Blodgett, Dr., 102
Channell, Robert, 109
Channell, William, 109
Chapman, Mrs. Daniel, 64
Brackett, Bruce, 53
Brackett, Daniel, 82
Brackett, Samuel, 14
Bradford, Augustus, 102
Brady, Daniel J., 22
Bragg, Samuel, 46
Chapman, James Nicholas, 114
Chapman, John F., 40
Branscomb, Charles, 102
Chapman, J., 123
Branscomb, Lucy, 102
Brewster, Editor, 36 Brisson, Joseph A., 59
Chapman, Paul, 55, 63, 120, 128, 124 Chapman, William, 80
Chase, George R., 94
Chase, Dr. N. B., 120
Chase, Philip, 63, 67
Chase, Stephen A., 73, 74, 75, 76
Chesley, Thomas, 52, 102
Cheswell, Abigail, 56
Cheswell, Martha, 56
Bryant, Walter, 16, 59
Chapman, James Madison, 102, 120, 121
Branscomb, Arthur, 94
Carter, Benjamin, 101
Carter, J. Henry, 96, 125
Blodgett, Perley D., 86, 87
Boardman, L., 76
Chapman, Deacon Daniel, 16, 60, 64 Chapman, E., 54
Brodhead, Elder, 53, 82, 93, 94 Brooks, Benjamin, 77. Brown, Jacob, 39
Brown, Sheriff, 59, 65.
Brown, Thomas, 85 Bruce, Schoolmaster, 109
Bryant, John, 63
Cheswell, Nancy, 84
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Cheswell, Sarah, 120
Cheswell, Thomas, 52, 84, 102
Cheswell, Wentworth, 38, 55, 56, 57, 86, 110, 123, 128 Cheswell, Widow, 128
Cheswell, W., 86, 110
Churchill, Thomas, 74, 75
Cilley, Daniel P., 98, 102
Coffin, Eliphalet, 25
Coffin, Robert, 63
Cram, Daniel, 16, 124
Cram, G., 125
Creighton, Eliza, 102, 109
Creighton, James B., 86
Creighton, Z. Dow, 84, 121, 125
Creighton, Mrs. Z. Dow, 124
Crimmins, James H., 54
Crummet, Philip, 12
D
Dana, Francis, 45
Davis, Eben, 120
Davis, Levi, 120
Davis, Captain Samuel, 40
Day, Ephraim, 84
Dearborn, Arthur N., 56
Dearborn, George W., 98
Dockum, Ira, 112
Doe, A. W., 124
Doe, Captain, 16
Doe, Deborah, 68, 69
Doe, Joseph R., 125, 126
Doe, Nicholas, 68
Doe, Olinthus, 96
Doe, Wiggin, 16, 60, 68, 69, 70, 124, 125
Dow, Ensign John, 74, 86, 87
Dow, Rev. Lorenzo, 24
Dow, Samuel Plummer, 104, 118, 120
Dooley, Mrs., 14
Durell, Daniel, 61
Durell, Rebecca, 120
Durgin, Job, 74 Durgin, Martin, 112 Durgin, Miles, 86, 87, 102, 120
E Elkins, Joseph, 102, 118 Ewer, Rev. Nathaniel, 22, 24, 97
F
Ffollet, Francis, 17
Filion, Joseph A., 98
Folsom, Channing, 108
Folsom, Herbert, 112
Folsom, Jeremiah, 9, 54
Folsom, Josiah, 81, 82
Folsom, Dr. William, 108, 120, 124
French, Bradstreet, 102
French, Charles, 126
French, Edmund, 102
French, George, 126
French, Jonathan, 95
French, Lydia, 120
French, Reuben, 63
French, William, 126
Furber, Isaac, 59
G
Gale, Dr. George W., 59, 65
Garland, Elizabeth, 109
Garland, John, 102
Garland, Jonathan, 126
George III, 37 .
Gillis, N., 124
Gilman, Edward, 62
Gilman, John, 11
Gilman, Captain Samuel, 25, 38
Glidden, Andrew, 26
Glidden, Widow, 26
Greene, Simeon, 102
Griffin, John H., 58
Griffin, John P., 98
131
OLD NEWMARKET
H
Haines, John, 73, 74
Haines, Thomas, 118
Haley, Benjamin, 59, 104, 114, 125, 126
Haley, Samuel Abbott, 121, 126 Hanson, Stephen, 61, 64, 65, 66, 67, 104
Harding, Rev. C. R., 120
Harding, Rev. L. B., 40, 41
Harvey, Ernest F., 29 Harvey, Nathan H., 120, 125 Hill, General James, 23, 30, 52
Hilton, Edward, 7, 9, 11, 26
Hilton, William, 9
Hobart, Samuel, 39, 40
Horcsh, Dr., 110 Horn, George, 102
J
Jaffrey, George, 29
Jewell, Daniel, 82 Jewett, Samuel, 40
Jones, Paul, 31
Joy, Eben, 102, 124
Judd Sally, 45, 46 Judkins, Joseph, 14
K
Kennedy, Matthew T., 110
Kenniston, Blind, 102
Kenniston, Eugene, 59 Kent, John E., 10
Kidder, Dr. Nathaniel, 54
Kingman, Bela, 106 Kittredge, Dr. George W., 10, 58, 76, 82, 91, 94, 98, 103, 108, 120, 123 Knight, Fred W., 53
L Labranche, Philip, 59 Laine, Nellie, 54
Laine, Simon S., 15 Langdon, John, 36, 37 Langley, Benjamin, 124
Langley, Orlando, 84 Laroche, Alphonse, 54 Lawrence, Joseph, 121 Leavitt, George K., 112 Leavitt, Helen, 110 Lord, Dartmouth, 19
Lovering, Benjamin, 58, 123
Lovering, Mrs. Benjamin, 58, 63
M
Marston, David, 126
Marston, Howard, 126
Masters, Dr., 38
Mathes, Benjamin, 37, 102
Mathes, Constantine B., 9, 53, 120, 125 Mathes, John, 118
Mathes, Susan, 84
McNeal, Nehemiah, 27
McPhedris, Archibald, 28, 29
Mead, Benjamin, 55, 86, 123
Mead, Jeremiah, 54
Mead, Widow, 124
Mead & Cheswell, 10
Meader, Daniel, 124
Moody, Rev. John, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 25, 35, 44, 52, 128
Moses, Deacon, 96
Murray, Betsey, 65
Murray, David, 41, 65, 93, 120, 121, 128 Murray, Parmelia, 102
Murray, Timothy, 102 Murray, Widow, 124
N
Neal, Hubertus, 53 Newmarch, Mark, 33 Nicholas, James, 114
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0
Orcutt, Samson, 19 Osborn, Rev. John, 98
P
Packer, Sheriff, 16 Packer, Thomas, 16
Palmer, Deacon Daniel, 74, 100, 102
Palmer, Rev. James M., 120
Palmer, John, 14, 99, 100
Parker, Captain Robert, 33, 34
Parrot, Captain, John, 31
Payson, P., 109
Pickering, John, 36
Pickering, Miss, 119
Pindar, Joseph S., 16, 102, 125
Place, Alvah H., 84
Plumer, Gov., 51
Presson, John, 54
Priest, Dr., 101
Priest, Sarah, 84
Priest, William L., 54
2
Quint, Rev. Dr., 36
R
Revere, Paul, 37
Richardson, Harriet, 120
Robinson, A., 76
Robinson, George, 82, 94
Robinson, Nathaniel, 56
Rogers, Captain Nathaniel, 38 Rollins, Aaron, 10
S
Sanborn, Dr. John R., 85, 120 Sanford, Rev. Daniel, 100 Santa, Anna, 107 Savage, Benjamin, 16, 125
Scales, Editor, 36
Scammon, Teacher, 112
Scriggins, Widow, 60 Sewall, James, 45 Shackford, Seth R., 61, 76, 93, 94, 102
Sheafe, Mehitable, 21
Sheafe, Samson, 21
Sheafe, Sarah W., 22
Shute, Gov., 12, 28
Sias, Family, 124
Simpson, Mary, 59
Simpson, Olive, 59
Small, Hon. William B., 82, 121, 123
Smart, Joseph, 10, 14, 124
Smith, Betsy, 124
Smith, Charles H., 123
Smith, Ebenezer, 61, 125
Smith, Edward, 59, 63, 65, 66, 67
Smith, E. P., 74
Smith, Henry H., 126
Smith, John, 61, 66
Smith, John Moody, 52
Smith, Colonel Joseph, 10, 14, 26, 54, 55, 56, 57, 98, 123 Smith True E., 124
Smith, Walter, 59, 63, 65 67,
Sopel, Joseph H., 124
Speed, John, 101
Stackpole, Nathan, 85
Stackpole, William W., 125
Stevens, Nat., 75
Stinson, Abner, 53
Stone, Joseph, 74
Stott, Joseph, D., 10
Sullivan, James, 45
Sullivan, John, 36, 37
Sunday, Billy, 24
T
Tash, Thomas, 37 Tasker, Charles E., 59 Tasker, Jewett, 59, 94, 109 Tasker, Levi, 120
133
OLD NEWMARKET
Tasker, Schoolmaster, 87
Taylor, Edward, 10
Taylor, Joseph, 103 Taylor, Rebecca, 10
Taylor, William, 14, 85
Tebbets, Joseph H., 102
Tenney, Perley W., 126
Tenney, William, 58, 62, 85, 86, 124
Thompson, Job, 118
Thompson, Mary P., 36
Thompson, William, 126
Torr, Vincent, 84, 102
Torry, Captain William, 38
Towle, Gardner, 74
Towle, Dr. George N., 110
Towle, John M., 125
West, Martha, 109 Wheatland, Benjamin, 74, 75, 76, 93, 108 Wheelock, Rev. Eleazer, 19 White, Rev. Isaac C., 99
Wiggin, Josiah, 73, 75
Willey, Charles, 91
Willey, Thomas, 102, 104
Wilson, Robert, 29 Winkley, Jeremiah, 120
Wood, Hannah, 109, 111
Wood, Mrs. Mary A., 126 Woodbury, Captain, 87
Y
W
Wadley, Robert, 16 Walker, Seth, 61, 67, 74, 101, 110, 118
Walton, George, 22
Walton, Shadrach, 21, 22
Warner, Jonathan, 29
Warren, Columbus, 102
Watson, Benjamin, 84
Watson, David, 40 Watson, George, 120 Watson, Harry, 16 Waugh, Ralph, 52 Webster, Captain John, 78, 82, 103, 104, 118
Webster, Valentine, 108
Wentworth, Gov. John, 20, 36
Towle, Martha, 109 Treadwell, Charles, 52 Treadwell, Nathaniel, 52 Tufts, Abigail, 46
Tufts, Henry, 24, 44, 46
Tuttle, Benjamin F., 59, 80, 84, 108, 125 Tuttle, "Pa," 59, 80
Van Dame, Rev. B., 120
York, Mrs., 102 Young, Joseph, 63 Young, Melissa, 111 Young, Nathaniel, 125
To "Arn" Humphrey "Arn" dear delightful Arne Always smiling, never cross When you leave this happy hour hold We will Keenly feed your loss,
Arne Surely you remember Happy days of old Gon Lake Keep ers ever in that- piebure This I ask, for friendship's sake,
Dusky evenings when the moon light- Simmered ver the waters fair And the row boas gently racing Then are wished that are were there.
Oh that lovely wide Veranda! How it- did our souls invite- Thin King, dreaming, gently talking Laté initi the Summer night,
Long to be remembered summer Oh the picture clear is seen
Jake beside the and Log Cabin With the road-way in betirein.
Far array thèse quiet vaters And The Cabin now in drear, Ever fresh in mind, the memory. For our friendship makes it clear
As Lifes jour ney mars its ending Earthly friendship stronger grow may be- we will meet each other In the land no mortals know.
Will we leave behind the memories That have made earths patheray clear? Trill the home with God make stronger Earthly loves, and friendships dear?
Troll, these questions are un answered But- while life and reason Stay We will cherish recollections Of Gern Lake so far array.
michigan with all its beauties Me admire for beautys sake Best-me haid a special fondness For the Cabin and Groom Lake
I am eighty fire, dear Arme And lifee four me soon will and How and I have oft-been commands We're been more than that- · Good friends N.P. George
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