USA > New Hampshire > Grafton County > Campton > The Centennial celebration of the town of Campton, N.H., September 12th, 1867 > Part 2
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Daniel Wyatt from Newburyport, came to the place as early as 1769, and settled somewhat more than a mile above Mr. Little's, on the river. He became the mil- ler where the grain was ground for the families in all the region, and daily walked from his dwelling to the mill for more than forty years. He was as regular at his post, whatever might be the weather, as the return of day. What boy during the first half century of the town did not know Deacon Wyatt? Often has each one as he came
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First Inhabitants from Massachusetts.
to the mill with his load upon the horse's back, received from him a kind word, a useful suggestion or a solemn appeal. He was a man of decidedly christian character. His religious life commenced under the preaching of Whitefield and was maintained with unusual integrity to the last.
Joseph Pulsifer from Ipswich, and his wife from New- buryport, came here in 1769. She was then eighteen years of age, and came on horse-back upon a pillion, rid- ing behind another person and never having been upon a horse before starting on their journey into the wilderness. They settled at first near and a little south of the church as it now stands. He afterwards sold his dwelling house to the town for a place of worship, and removed to the hill in the south part of the town. There in the midst of difficulties, common indeed to new settlers, but of which we can at present form no adequate conception, they brought up a family of ten children.
Jonathan Cone was among the early settlers, and was an active citizen for some twenty years. He afterwards spent his life in Thornton.
Nathaniel Tupper from Georgetown and his wife Han- nah Choat from Essex, came to town in 1770 and settled on the plains where Deacon Clarke now lives. For a long time he was called Deacon Tupper, though he never sus- tained this office, indicating the public sentiment that he might well have sustained it. The preaching of White- field was blessed to his conversion in early life and had an influence upon the character of many other of the first settlers from the region of the scene of his labors near the close of his life.
Joseph Palmer from Rowley, Massachusetts, was in town as early as 1770 or 1771, and took an active part in the transactions of the town. He settled on the west side of the river and near to it. He had two sons and
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Centennial Celebration.
several daughters who became the heads of large families.
The first town meeting of which we have the record, was held in 1772, and is as follows :
MOSES LITTLE, Esq., Moderator.
Col. JOSEPH SPENCER, Town Clerk.
Capt. GERSHOM BURBANK, MOSES LITTLE, Esq., JAMES HARVEL, EBENEZER TAYLOR, BENJAMIN HICKCOX, Select- men.
JONATHAN CONE, Constable.
SAMUEL COOK, and SAMUEL FULLER, Tythingmen.
NATHANIEL TUPPER, and JOSEPH PULSIFER, Fence View- ers.
DAVID PERKINS, and DARIUS WILLEY, Sealers of Leather.
WILLIAM HOBART, and ASA SPENCER, Surveyors of High-
ways.
JOSEPH PALMER, and JOSEPH PULSIFER, Surveyors of Lumber.
NATHANIEL TUPPER, Surveyor of Brick.
DARIUS WILLEY, ISAAC FOX, BENJAMIN RUG, Hogreaves.
EBENEZER FOWLER, Sealer of Weights and Measures.
Voted, That a notice of town meeting hereafter be posted in two places.
NOTICES OF THE EARLY SETTLERS.
In the town records of 1773, there appear for the first time the names of Israel Brainard, Samuel Holmes, Jonah Chapman, Ebenezer Fowler, William Hobart. In 1774, John Southmayd, Hobart Spencer, Chiliab Brainard. In 1775, Thomas Bartlett, John Holmes, Edmond Elliot. In 1776, Carr Chase, from Newburyport. In 1777, Elias Cheney. In 1779, William Baker, and Moses Baker. In 1780, Jabez Church, a successful school teacher for many years.
Col. Joseph Spencer, son of Gen. Jabez Spencer, was among the earliest in town, and settled on the farm after-
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Notices of the Early Settlers.
wards occupied by Deacon William Baker, and now used for the poor of the town.
Samuel Holmes, from Hadlime, Connecticut, was here as early as 1771 or 1772. He bought lands of Joseph Spencer on Beebe's River, a portion of intervale of great productiveness when it was new. Young Holmes came up in the spring with his axe upon his back, and went into the woods, built him a camp, cut down trees and cleared land. His purpose was to return to his distant home in the Fall. But before he was ready to leave, the weather became cold and he needed additional covering for the night and means for cooking. He went to the store of Mr. Little to purchase a blanket and a kettle for present use, and asked to be trusted until he should come up again in the Spring. This, Mr. Little declined to do, an incident to which Holmes, after he became one of the wealthiest men in town, was sometimes disposed to call the attention of Little. In the following Spring Mr. Holmes came up with his wife, she bringing behind her on horse-back, her feather-bed and her copper tea-kettle rolled up within it. He made a table of a split log and she dried her cheese upon the timbers of the new barn frame. He soon became a man of consideration among the people, and was appointed to the first offices in town. He was a colonel in the militia, moderator of town meet- ings and was the first Representative of the town in the Legislature of the State in 1810 and in 1811. He sought the interests of the town, and often gave important aid to young men in setting out in life. He sustained with a strong hand the religious institutions of the town, and was active in building the first meeting house which was erected on the east side of the river. He gave land for a parsonage, and aided in the erection of the necessary buildings. When in closing up the business it was found that a debt still remained, he said to his neighbors that it
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Centennial Celebration.
must be paid. " If you will pay one-half you may put the rest to my account." Such men are scarce, but of great value in any community. He died in 1823, at the age of 73. " The memory of the just is blessed, but the name of the wicked shall rot."
John Southmayd, from Hadlime, Connecticut, was in town as early as 1773. He is reported to have brought to the town $500, which was more money than any one had brought who came before him. He settled on the in tervale east of Samuel Holmes. He married for his first wife, Prudence, the youngest sister of Abel Willey, in 1774. That wedding among the earliest in the place, was joyous and memorable. It occurred the day after the set tlement of the first minister, Rev. Mr. Church, and was Jollowed in less than two years by the death of the young wife and mother. His second wife was the daughter of Deacon Baker. By his superior education and mechani cal skill, Esquire Southmayd was able to make himsel useful to his neighbors and townsmen. He was a justice of the peace and town clerk for a long time. He was the only surveyor and a good carpenter. He and his neigh bor Holmes were from the same town in Connecticut. O1 one occasion they visited there together and came back with different political bearings, the one inclining to the Federalist party and the other to the Democratic. When the inquiry was made " how this came about ?" the answer was " they attended different schools." Esquire South mayd was a leading politician. It is said of him that he voted the Democratic ticket when no other man in town voted with him.
Samuel Cook, from Newburyport, came to town in 1770 He settled on the west side of the river where Mr. Bick ford now lives. He had a large family. His children who became heads of families, were Samuel, Moody, Cut ting, Charles, and Ephraim. One daughter became the
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Notices of the Early Settlers.
wife of Edmond Elliot, afterward of Thornton, and the other of Edmond March. Mr. Cook and his wife died so near together in 1790 that they were both buried in one grave.
Gershom Burbank, from Newburyport, was one of the earliest in town. He settled on the east side of the river in the north part of the town. He had previously been in the French war and with the army at the taking of Quebec. But not in the battle, for General Wolfe did not allow the colonial troops to ascend with him to the plains of Abraham. We afterwards find Mr. Burbank ready, at the call of his country, at the invasion of Bur- goyne in 1777. He was in the regiment of Colonel Chase, was 1st Lieutenant in the Company of Captain Willough- by of Plymouth. Cutting Favor of New Chester, was 2d Lieutenant. He afterwards held a captain's commis- sion, and was known for a long time as Captain Burbank. He was often one of the selectmen of the town, and in other important offices.
William Baker, from Epping, was in town in 1777 and probably earlier. He was a man of mature years when he came to the place, and was known as a christian man. He was a delegate to the first convention for the forma- tion of a State Government, held at Concord, 1777. He was early appointed Deacon of the Church, and continued in this office while he lived. He died November 28, 1814, about fifteen minutes before the great earthquake.
Col. Moses Baker, brother of William, came to the town in 1778, from Candia, and was originally from Ep- ping. He had sustained many important offices, and was able to make himself highly useful in this new town. He had taken an active part in the interests of the country, as the war drew on, and is known to have been in the command of a company of six weeks' men, in Candia, in 1775, called out by the Committee of Safety. He was, as
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is believed, in the army at the time, if not in the battle at Bunker Hill, during the early part of the war. He was the Representative of this town in the Convention at Concord in 1781. He afterwards represented the three towns of Campton, Thornton, and Holderness, in the Legislature of the State for several years in succes- sion. An incident is related of him, showing the pleasant intercourse which he had with the people of the town. He became paralytic in his advanced years. One side of him being disabled, - but a man of much dignity in his personal appearance. With his wife behind him upon a horse, as was the custom of riding in those days, he called to spend an afternoon at a neighbor's, the late Deacon Da- vid Bartlet. The latter was engaged as he often was, in making shoes. The Colonel would by no means interrupt his work, but sat with him. Dea. Bartlet was anxious to make some inquiries of him in regard to his spiritual in- terest. But as he was then a young man, he felt a diffi- culty in approaching a man of his years and standing in the community. At length he frankly told him how he felt in reference to speaking to him of his salvation. The reply of Colonel Baker was, " It is for this purpose that I have called upon you." "This," said Deacon Bartlett, " was the happiest afternoon I ever spent." Colonel Ba- ker united with the christian church in 1802, and became an earnest christian man. In reference to this change which took place in his advanced years, he was accustom- ed to speak with admiring gratitude. " I have had many warnings and trials in the loss of friends and of property, but nothing has moved me to seek my salvation until God appeared in my late trial and cut me in two and paralyzed one half of me."
Benjamin Baker, brother of the above, was a patriot of the Revolution. He was in the war at the commencement of it, and suffered much. He settled in this town on the
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Centennial Celebration.
west side of the river, but died early from his exposure in the army.
INCIDENTS OF THE EARLY SETTLEMENT.
The incidents connected with the removal of the early inhabitants from their former homes to this remote wilder- ness town, are many, and would be of great interest did we know them. Had our mothers and grandmothers given us in writing the stories which they have so often told us, we might have had a rich treat to-day. Some general facts we gather from their descendants. The ear- ly settlers were almost all young people, -the men from eighteen or nineteen, to twenty-one or twenty-two, and the women still younger.
What think you, young men of the present time, of starting off some hundreds of miles into the wilderness, with your axe upon your back, to make a home for your- selves, - and such a wilderness as was found here! What would the mothers of these times say to sending their daughters out as our grandmothers went, taking with them nothing but what could be carried on horse-back ! But bravely did our ancestors encounter the hardships required of them, and we are enjoying the benefits of them. For a few years after the first settlers came here, they were obliged to go to Concord to mill, a distance of fifty miles through the woods.
An incident is related of one of the Scotch people, who were early settled above, upon this river, in the town of Thornton. He had been to Concord, with his hand-sled, to mill. On his return he spent the night in this town, and chose to live on his own provisions. He made of his corn-meal a thin pudding, and to his gratification, was furnished with a little salt, which in those times it was difficult to procure, and his remark was that he pitied no
26
Without a Doctor.
man who had Indian meal and salt. There were times when crops failed, and then, as the settlers had no other source of supply, the stock of provisions became short. Two men were lately living who often related that their father, in a time of scarcity, went across these east mountains, to Sandwich, for meal, a distance of a dozen miles at least, and brought it home upon his back, and that their mother quickly made a johnny cake and sent it into the field to them where they were at work. Their united testimony was that no morsel they ever afterwards ate was as good. But except in a few such seasons, our fathers and their families had a supply of healthful food, and our mothers clean and neat houses, and no food was ever as good as that which they prepared for their children. The game taken in these woods was of great importance to the early settlers. The moose, the deer, and the bear, to say nothing of other kinds, were common, and our fathers were skilful hunters. Ho- bart Spencer, a man of great strength, on one occasion is said to have gone up to the foot of Moosehillock, where the moose was plenty, and brought home upon his back his own weight in moose meat. Colonel Webster of Ply- mouth, is said to have had, at one time, fifteen barrels. Fish were then abundant in these streams. The salmon was frequently taken in the Pemigewasset.
WITHOUT A DOCTOR.
You will be disposed to ask, perhaps, how the people did, when sick, before any doctor came to town. I can- not say, but it is quite certain that they raised up large families, enjoyed better health and lived longer than the generations in our time. Not in all cases, because they had no doctor, but because their habits of life favored health and longevity. In the times of their necessities
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Articles of Food and Clothing.
they aided each other, and we fear that the kindnesses and hospitalities of those days are but little known among us.
One of the earliest women on the ground, a widow of mature years, though not trained to the medical art, was accustomed to go when called, by day or by night, be the weather or the traveling what it might, on horse-back or on a handsled, over snow-drifts and through woods, and by her kind attentions, a large part of the first genera- tion in this and neighboring towns, were aided in first breathing the vital air and seeing the light of day.
ARTICLES OF FOOD AND CLOTHING.
The articles of food, as given in another town, are be- lieved to have been common in this. Bread was made of rye, or rye and Indian meal. Wheat was raised to a limit- ed extent. Boiled pork and beef, broth, bean porridge, Indian pudding, boiled potatoes and turnips. Potatoes, however, were not largely raised. Three bushels being regarded as a great supply. Milk was much used when it could be had. For an exchange, sweetened cider with toasted bread was taken. Tea and coffee were very little used.
For clothes, men who had attained their growth, had a decent coat, vest, and small clothes or breeches, knee- buckles, and shoe-buckles. Only old men wore great coats and boots, which usually lasted for life. They wore thick leather shoes, woolen shirts in winter, and linen or tow in summer, and a silk handkerchief for the neck, which would usually last ten years. Shoes and stockings were not usually worn by the young in summer. As for boys, when they left off their petticoats, they put on breeches. This was the practice until pantaloons were introduced, which were called tongs. Young men never thought of great coats in those days.
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As for the women, old and young, they wore flannel or pressed cloth gowns in winter. They were generally con- tent with one calico dress. They wore checked aprons of linen. They wore high heeled shoes with peaked toes turned up at the point. As for bonnets, I can give no information. They could not have been smaller than those now worn.
CARRIAGES.
There were no carriages for more than forty years, and if there had been there were no roads or bridges for them. Colonel Holmes procured the first chaise and drove it into town on his return from the General Court in Concord in 1811. Many of you can speak of the first waggon you ever saw. They were not in use when I left town fifty years ago. All rode on horse-back, if they rode at all in summer. At every church and public place and at almost every man's door, was the horse-block. A place prepared especially for women from which to mount the horse. As for railroad cars, who had ever thought of them? Warm, comfortable rooms, carpeted and cushioned, and many joined together, filled with jolly folks, moving through the country at the rate of twenty miles to the hour- among rocks and stumps and trees, over hills and through the valleys and drawn by a boiling teakettle. The thought would have been ridiculous to them. But all this is now realized, and many of you have taken stock in them. As well might our fathers have conceived of a railroad to the top of the White Mountains, or to the moon.
REVOLUTIONARY WAR.
The period of the revolutionary war was a season of trial to the new settlers. They had but recently come and
Sylvester Marsh, a native of this town, is the originator and agent for the construction of a railroad to the top of Mount Washington. One half of it is built. Success attend him.
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Revolutionary Soldiers .- Bunker Hill.
gathered around them a few of the comforts and conven- iencies of life. But many of them had not paid for their land, and the taxes, incident to the war, fell heavily upon them. One man, at least, with a growing family, pro- posed to Esquire Little to give up his land and his home. But being a cabinet-maker, he was encouraged to work the boards which were here, prepared from the birch and the maple. In this way he relieved himself and became useful to his townsmen.
REVOLUTIONARY SOLDIERS.
This town is said to have furnished ten soldiers for the war, besides those called at Burgoyne's invasion. Their names so far as we have them were : John Cannon, John Mayloy, Jeremiah Archibald, Silas Fox, Uriah Fox, Asa Spencer, Edward Taylor, and Oliver Taylor. Of the ten soldiers, five are reported to have died in the service.
BUNKER HILL.
It is remarkable that, at the battle of Bunker Hill, which aroused the whole country to the great conflict, the cannon should have been heard so far as to this town. But " it was distinctly heard, by applying the ear to the ground," says Dr. Whiton, in his history of the State, " at Hanover, at Haverhill, and Plymouth," and I may add, in this place. We have had such testimony, from those then living here, as cannot be doubted.
BURGOYNE'S INVASION.
In the progress of the war, the British commander in Canada, General Burgoyne made an advance upon this northern region which created great alarm. He came down through New York, and was approaching Vermont, when Gen. Stark was sent out by the Legislature of New Hamp-
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Centennial Celebration.
shire, to oppose him. General Burgoyne had a powerful army made up in part of Hessian soldiers from Germany. He was confident of success. He had the tories for scouts and for spies, and an array of savages in his train. Gen- eral Stark had collected his troops at Bennington, in Ver- mont, on the ninth of August, 1777, and soon ascertained that a large detachment of Burgoyne's army was approach- ing in command of Colonel Baum. After receiving a small reinforcement of Vermont militia, making his whole force sixteen hundred, he made an attack upon them, and after a short conflict compelled them to retreat. Two hundred and thirty Hessians lay dead upon the field ; more than seven hundred prisoners were taken and among them Colonel Baum, who was mortally wounded. This, as Mr. Jefferson said in his letter to General Stark, in af- ter years, was the first link in the chain of successes which led to the surrender of Burgoyne's army on the seven- teenth of October following, and it may be added, was the first guarantee of the final attainment of American Independence. This event not only gave courage to the country, but decided the French Court to acknowledge our Independence, and to aid us in the conflict. This con- flict brought Lafayette to our shores. The approach of Burgoyne's army occasioned a call for men from this town. It reached here on Saturday and the men were to march on Monday morning. One man, a careful observer of the Sabbath, was compelled to spend the day in mak- ing himself a pair of shoes. They went to Vermont, and hearing of the victory, returned to their homes.
THE TORIES.
The tories, you know, were numerous in the early part of the war. They were men who had been true to their King and to their country, and could not so readily em- bark in the interests of this new Republic. They were
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Politics of the Town.
found among all classes of the community, - ministers, lawyers and statesmen. They became objects of hatred and derision. Governor Wentworth fled from the State and country rather than encounter the rising spirit of lib- erty. Among the Scotch people in Thornton, there were two brothers, at one time, deliberating which side to join. They are represented to have been honest and faithful men. The one doubting the success of the colonies, went to Canada and joined the British army. The other was called out to meet Burgoyne. They met after his capture, the one a prisoner of war, to be sent to England to be exchanged ; the other a triumphant American, to return to his family. Tories handcuffed, tied together by a rope, and that to a horse's tail, and marched off to the tune of Yankee doodle.
POLITICS OF THE TOWN.
Among the citizens of this town great harmony of politi- cal feeling and action prevailed in their early history. Washington was the spontaneous choice of the whole peo- ple of the country for their first chief magistrate. But no other one was ever elevated to this office without op- position.
Two parties were started in Washington's administra- tion, known afterwards by the names of Federalist and Republican. The one advocating a strong general gov- ernment, and the other a larger measure of liberty. The one made up of the men of wealth, character and influence ; the other of young men, mechanics and the poorer class, and also of the planters of the South. Under different names two parties have ever since continued. The vote of this town was given for the Federal candidate, without dissent, up to 1801.
About this time two of the leading men of the town made a visit together to their native State, Connecticut,
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Centennial Celebration.
and came back advocates for different political systems. The inquiry was made, why it was so? The answer was " that they attended different political schools. Then the minister of the town took an open stand in favor of the Republican, or as it is now known, the Democratic party. From this time a small but increasing portion of the votes were cast for that ticket.
In 1802, the vote of the town stood 83 to 4. In 1803, 115 to 17. In 1812, 107 to 20. In 1818, 132 to 23.
In 1829, Jacob Giddings was Moderator ; Ebenezer Lit- tle, Representative. The vote for Governor stood 124 for Bell, and 62 for Pierce.
In 1830, Ebenezer Little was Representative. Vote for Governor stood 114 for Upham, and 77 for Harvey.
In 1831, John Keniston, Representative. Vote for Governor stood 100 for Dinsmore, and 106 for Bartlett.
INTEREST IN EDUCATION.
The education of the young has ever been an impor- tant object with the citizens of this town, as their appro- priations for this object from year to year will show. As has been seen, the charter of the town secured lands for the support of schools.
The first school taught by a man, was kept in the house of Col. Baker, by Mr. Rawson, a young man from Con- necticut, not far from 1780. This was the only school which many of the first generation of the town ever at- tended. Some short schools were afterwards attended in other places. This deficiency in the means of education was made up to the young by the fidelity of their parents, particularly by the mothers. The mothers may be said to have been the educators of the first generation in this town. They required the word of God to be read to them, chapter after chapter, daily, and when it was read through it was begun again. A book better adapted to the pur-
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