USA > New Hampshire > The Colonial garrisons of New Hampshire > Part 4
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Tasker Garrison: This garrison was at the foot of Mo- harimet's Hill, so called from an Indian chief who had his fortress there. A "grant of land was given Charles Adams, of Oyster River, from Dover, Nov. 1, 1672, half of which he conveyed to his daughter, Mary, wife of William Tasker, March 11, 1693-4." (Copy of old record.)
The Taskers were living here at the time of the Indian massacre in 1694, and, being attacked at that time, fled to the Woodman garrison in Durham. After this time their house was fortified into a garrison. About 1820 the prop- erty was sold to Ebenezer Thompson DeMerritt, who took down the garrison and built the present house.
Twombly's Garrison: This garrison was probably built by William Twombly, who took land here in 1734. It stood a few rods above the present residence of the heirs of the late Judge Jacob Young. The garrison house was taken down in the spring of 1842 by a descendant of William Twombly, who erected a very substantial residence near by on the Twombly land, now the home of Richard and Mrs. Hale.
This account of the Madbury Garrisons was given by the late Miss Jennie M. DeMerritt, historian of Madbury.
MILFORD
Peabody Garrison: On the 13th of May, 1747, during the raging of the French and Indian War (begun in 1744), the inhabitants of Monson (early name of Milford) and Souhegan West (Amherst), then frontier towns, presented to the General Court a petition stating their exposed posi- tion and asking "that a guard for two garrisons and a small scout on our front may be granted to us."
The assembly gave orders for enlisting or impressing fifteen good effective men, under proper officers, to scout and guard Souhegan West and Monson till the "twenty-
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third day of October, if need be," and also made provision that said men be shifted once a month.
One of these garrisons was located on the farm of William Peabody, upon the north bank of the river in Sou- hegan West, and the well used in connection with it can now (1901) be seen. To this garrison the early settlers of Wilton and Lyndeborough often fled. It was built as early as 1741.
Colburn Garrison : The log hut built by William Colburn in the easterly part of Monson (Milford) not far north of Long Pond was used as a garrison house in 1747. William Colburn was one of the first settlers, before the town was incorporated, and one of the signers, on May 13, 1747, of the petition for soldiers for defense of the garrisons.
Although the Indians passed up and down the valley of the Souhegan upon fishing and hunting excursions, and often crossed this territory upon warlike expeditions, there is no evidence that any white person suffered death at their hands.
Above notes from History of Milford, 1738-1901, George A. Ramsdell, pp. 15-23.
NASHUA
Cummings Garrison : The Cummings garrison was east of the Daniel Webster Highway, south of Split Brook, and east of the Old South Nashua Cemetery.
Galusha Garrison: The Galusha garrison stood east of the Nashua and Acton Railroad, a few rods north of the state line.
Harwood Garrison: The Harwood garrison was south of the mouth of the brook, and on the west side near the Mer- rimack River. Mr. Harwood was killed by Indians near the door of this garrison.
Lund Garrison: The Thomas Lund garrison was a few rods east of the Daniel Webster Highway, on the north side of the brook that flows past the home of Horace E. Osgood.
Queens Garrison : Queens garrison stood near the home now occupied by David Stevens, on Bowers Street.
Solendine Garrison: The John Solendine garrison was not far from the Lund garrison, the exact spot not known. Solendine was the carpenter-in-charge, who built the first Congregational meeting house in Nashua, and the first bridge across Salmon Brook.
Weld Garrison: The Weld garrison was near the J. D. Gardiner place in South Nashua. Mr Weld was first pastor of the Congregational Church in Nashua.
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Whiting Garrison: The Whiting garrison stood on the old Whiting farm, which covered a large area on both sides of the Robinson Road, extending from Salmon Brook to the Merrimack River. The exact site is not known.
The above list was furnished in 1928 by Mr. Charles B. Lund, of Nashua, authority on the local garrisons.
Nashua, under its original name, Dunstable, was for a long time a frontier town exposed to Indian depredations and annoyed by sudden onsets. In the spring of 1702 a party of Indians made an assault upon the settlement and killed several persons, among them the Rev. Thomas Weld, the first minister. (N. H. As It Is, p. 308.)
NEWFIELDS
The principal garrisons were on high land commanding a view of the river. (History of Newfields, by Rev. James H. Fitts, 1912, p. 57.)
Ames Garrison: The Daniel Ames garrison was built about 1720. The farm was called "Ames Possession," and is now (1937) owned by Smith Sanborn. The old garrison was a two-story building, with two rooms on the floor and two chambers. It stood near Piscassic River and the old mast-way, where the neglected graves of the family may be seen. It was burned in 1806. (p. 424.)
Folsom Garrison: The Jeremiah Folsom garrison was built in 1719, a two-story brick house, upon the hill south of Lamprey River village (Newmarket), now (1937) the property of the Mathes family. This garrison stood until 1874, when it was taken down. Susanna Folsom, after- wards Mrs. John Mead, the daughter of Jeremiah Folsom, when about ten years of age, stepped to the door one even- ing at dusk and saw Indians peering round the corner of the house. She quickly shut the door and gave the alarm. All was made secure, and there was no trouble. (p. 58.)
Hall Garrison: Captain Edward Hall built a brick gar- rison in 1722, which stood upon the spot now occupied by the residence of George W. Pease. It had a wooden portico over the front door, upon which was a small cannon. One evening the family discovered a pine bush standing in the garden on the south side of the house. Suspecting an In- dian might be skulking behind the bush, a gun was fired into it, when the bush toppled over and disappeared in the darkness. In the morning traces of blood were found. This garrison stood until 1845.
Hilton Garrison: Captain William Hilton's garrison, erected about 1680, stood on Fowler's Hill, a little west of
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the present dwelling. It was a log house surrounded by a palisade, with a sentry box on the barn. In the Indian attack of 1690, the men were at work in the field, and the sentry had fallen asleep. The Indians stealthily approached and fired on the defenseless farmers, who rushed for the garrison. Some were killed, among them a man who had lately come from England with considerable money for those times. In that time of terror he had buried his gold in the field and died without revealing the location, and the deposit has never been found. The garrison remained until about 1822. (pp. 57-58.)
Hilton Garrison: The Colonel Edward Hilton garrison, later on Colonel Winthrop Hilton's garrison, stood on or near the first Hilton house, in the field near the family graveyard. In the attack upon the haymakers in this field in 1706, the Indians intercepted the return of the white men to the garrison. (p. 58.)
Rollins Garrison: The Aaron Rollins garrison was for- merly the home of Edward Taylor, his father-in-law, who was killed by Indians in 1704. In 1723, eighteen Indians attacked the garrison, and killed Rollins and a 12-year old daughter. His wife and other children were taken prison- ers. The old cellar walls still remain, near the lower falls of the Piscassic River. (History of Rockingham County, Hazlett, p. 551.) For full account, see Belknap, p. 203.
Garrison: There was a garrison on the Hall's Mill Road at the Hanson place. (History of Newfields, p. 58.)
NEWINGTON
Nutter Garrison: Site of the Nutter garrison, built by Anthony Nutter, before 1663, - at Welshman's Cove. (Landmarks in Ancient Dover, Mary P. Thompson, p. 31.)
Downing Garrison: Site on Fox Point of the Downing garrison, no doubt built by Nicholas Harrison, who in his will of March 5, 1707, gives his son in-law, John Downing, and Elizabeth, his wife, "as my eldest daughter all my housing, orchards and lands at ffox pointe." John Down- ing died September 16, 1744, aged 85.
The garrison was built of logs, with four large rooms, each said to have been occupied by a family at one period. It was attacked more than once by the Indians, who on one occasion set fire to it, traces of which could still be seen when it was taken down about fifty years ago (1838) by Colonel Isaac Frink, who had acquired it. (p. 31.)
Furber Garrison: Lieutenant William Furber mentioned his garrison at Welch Cove, July 27, 1696. He was tried.
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by court-martial that year for dismissing his soldiers. Lieutenant Furber died September 14, 1707. (p. 50.)
Dam Garrison: John Dam's garrison was at Welch Cove. Sergeant Dam was summoned to appear before Governor Usher, September 26, 1696, for dismissing sundry soldiers posted at his garrison. This fault was perhaps owing to lack of provisions, which Sergeant Dam had complained of in a letter dated "Welch Cove, July 27, 1696." (p. 50.)
NEWMARKET
Smith Garrison: The site of the old Smith garrison house is on Lubberland Road, near Great Bay. It was built by David Davis in 1695. He was killed by the Indians in 1696, in which year Captain John Smith became the owner. He died in 1744 and his son, Ebenezer Smith, inherited the house. Ebenezer died in 1764, when his daughter, Mar- garet (Smith) Blydenbury, became the possessor. At her death in 1798 (about), her daughter "Peggy" (Margaret), lived there, and died in the garrison house, unmarried, about 1825. The old building was a typical two-story over- hang type, and was demolished in 1880. The site was marked in 1934. (Notes about ownership copied from in-
SMITH GARRISON, NEWMARKET
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THE COLONIAL GARRISONS
scription under an old picture of the garrison owned by the late Hon. Channing Folsom, of Newmarket. This picture is here reproduced.)
NORTH HAMPTON
Dearborn Garrison: One of the first acts of the inhabi- tants was the erection of a garrison house, where all might take refuge in case of an attack by Indians. This garrison house stood a few rods southwesterly from the site of the first meeting house on the southern border of what was formerly called the "Green." (North Hampton, in the His- tory of Rockingham County, p. 407.)
The History and Description of New England, printed in Boston in 1860, under North Hampton, says: "In 1734, the first meeting house was built and near it stood a garri- son. In this garrison house was born, in 1706, Simon Dear- born, father of Major General Henry Dearborn and Captain John Dearborn." Dea. John3 Dearborn, born in Hampton, 10 October, 1666, had ten children between 1690 and 1710. If the son, Simon, was born in the garrison house in 1706, it must have been built previous to that year. The History of Hampton states that the son, Simon, lived in the home- stead, and had twelve children born between 1729 and 1751. Thus, probably the garrison was standing some time after the latter year, and was built several years before the meeting house was erected.
NOTTINGHAM
Garrison: The site of the Nottingham garrison house, built about 1722, is on what is now the green between the Butler and Fernald houses. In this garrison the early set- tlers spent the nights during Indian troubles, and here the soldiers, sent from Exeter and vicinity to guard them, were stationed. In September, 1747, the soldiers then on duty at this garrison returned to their homes, their time having expired, all but Nathaniel Folsom of Brentwood. He and Robert Beard, who lived near by, were preparing sweet corn for their dinner in the garrison, and Folsom was just stepping through the door with a pail of water from the spring, when the Indians, Sebattis and Plausawa, shot him; they then killed Beard. Rushing down over the hill, Fish Street, they entered the house of Mrs. Elizabeth Simpson, who had gone to her home to bake bread, and stabbed her through the heart. The three victims were buried in the field near the garrison between the Butler house and Fish Street. The old garrison well has been preserved, its cold water still used. A rock curbing, in which has been placed
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a bronze tablet, has been erected about the well and a well- sweep added. This was done by Else Cilley Chapter, D. A. R. A boulder with tablet has been placed on the green (unveiled August, 1936) in memory of those three who lost their lives in the Nottingham Massacre.
NOTTINGHAM WEST (See Hudson and Pelham)
PELHAM
Butler Garrison: John Butler, of Woburn, was the first settler in that part of Nottingham West that is now the westerly part of Pelham.
John Butler bought of Jonathan Tyng, in 1721, two tracts of land in the east part of Dunstable, containing in all 600 acres adjoining what was then, and until the settle- ment of the Province line in 1741, the Dracut boundary. He settled there in 1722 and built a log house in the form of a garrison. It is supposed this house stood near the present Mammoth Road, on land formerly known as the John Gage place, east of Gumpas Pond. (History of Dun- stable, p. 124.)
PEMBROKE
Moore Garrison: James Moore probably erected his house in 1730. It is said to have been the first framed building in the township, and the frame today (1885) forms a part of Samuel Emery Moore's house. Moore was very sagacious in his treatment of the Indians and gained their friendship; his place was avoided by them in after years during hostilities, though it was fortified to repel an attack. (Pembroke, by John N. McClintock, in History of Belknap and Merrimack Counties, Hurd, p. 563.)
Whittemore Garrison: Rev. Aaron Whittemore, born in Concord, Massachusetts, in 1711, was the first minister in Pembroke, 1737. During the French and Indian Wars his house, which stood south of the cemetery on Pembroke Street, was a garrison. He held the commission of first lieutenant for the provincial authorities of New Hamp- shire, and was in command of the fort. The house forms a part of the present (1937) residence. (p. 585.)
PORTSMOUTH
Thompson's "Great House": Thompson's "Great House", built by David Thompson about May, 1623, of which Sam- uel Maverick wrote in 1660, - "Thomson built a Strong and Large house and enclosed it in a large and high Pali-
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THE COLONIAL GARRISONS
zardo and mounted gunns, and being stored extraordinarily with shot and Ammunition, was a terror to the Indians. ... This house and Fforte he built on a point of land at the very entrance of the Pascataway River." (History of Rockingham County, by Hazlett, pp. 95-96.) A monument erected by the New Hampshire Society of the Colonial Dames of America marks the site of this "Great House." It was for many years within the limits of Portsmouth, and is now included in the town of Rye.
Chadbourne's "Great House": William Chadbourne (Brewster's Rambles says Humphrey Chadbourne) built a "Great House" at Strawberry Bank (original name of Portsmouth) about 1631, - at the southwest corner of what are now Water and Court Streets. (Hazlett's His- tory of Rockingham County, pp. 100, 103, 117. Brewster's Rambles, p. 18.)
Garrison House: Site of an old garrison house "at the head of Jacob Sheafe's wharf on Water Street." (Brew- ster's Rambles, p. 21.)
John Cutt Garrison: This garrison house was the resi- dence of President John Cutt, - on what is now Market Street, near the Moffat-Ladd house, the home of the New Hampshire Society of Colonial Dames of America. (Brew- ster's Rambles, p. 21. The Moffat-Ladd House, Its Garden and Its Period, 1763, by Philip Dana Orcutt, 1935, p. 17.)
Garrison House: Site of the garrison house, later the Russell house,-near the Ferryways. These garrison houses (in Portsmouth) were probably some of the first houses built on the Bank (Strawberry Bank) after the erection of the Great House. (Brewster's Rambles, p. 21.)
Portsmouth Plains Garrison House: Site of garrison house on Portsmouth Plains to which the men fled during the Indian Massacre of June 26, 1696, - "located about north of the present site of the school-house in the field between the barn of Mrs. Joseph Sherburne and the eleva- tion on the east. A cellar and well are yet visible in the field not far east from the orchard." (Brewster's Rambles, p. 73.)
Henry Beck Garrison House: The home of Henry Beck was a garrison house, built about 1664. The house stood on a bluff near the Moses house, on the south shore of Sag- amore Creek, opposite the Middle Road, a decidedly pic- turesque spot, affording a view up and down the creek. A garrison house was maintained there. Henry Beck came from London in 1635 at the age of eighteen. He was taxed in Dover in 1648; was of Portsmouth before 1657; was allotted 60 acres in 1660; was at the Creek as early as 1664.
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(Pioneers of Sagamore Creek in Granite State Magazine, Vol. 6, p. 256.)
"In 1705, the line of pickets, which enclosed Ports- mouth, extended from the mill-pond on the S. side of the town to the creek on the N. side and crossed the street a few rods W. of the present site of the Court-house." (Gazetteer of New Hampshire, 1817, p. 187. Belknap, p. 170.) This palisade across the isthmus cut off all ap- proach by land.
ROCHESTER
In 1744, the proprietors voted to give to the settlers all the mill rents then due, to be appropriated for building five block-houses, or forts, - three on the great road that leads to Norway Plains, o'ne at Squamanagonic upper mill, and one on the road by Newichwannoc River near the widow Tebbets's, or as his excellency should otherwise order. These forts were built, although the rents could not be collected to pay for them. Besides these public garrisons, many others were built at private expense, receiving the names of their owners.
Copp Garrison: Copp's garrison was near where Mr. Crockett lived in 1892.
Goodwin Garrison: The Goodwin garrison house was on land owned in 1892 by John Crockett, opposite the Bartlett place.
Main Garrison: The Rev. Amos Main occupied a gar- rison house near the top of Rochester Hill.
Newichwannoc Garrison: The garrison on the Newich- wannoc Road was not far from Asa Roberts' house.
Rawlins Garrison: This garrison house was not far from the Richard Wentworth garrison.
Squamanagonic Garrison: The garrison at Squamana- gonic stood where now is the garden of Colonel Charles Whitehouse.
Wentworth Garrison: The Richard Wentworth garrison house was built near where Thomas Fall lived (1892) on the main road.
The only one of these forts now remaining forms the rear part of the present house of Edward Tebbets. The upper story having been removed and the lower covered with clapboards and painted, it would not be recognized by any outward appearance as a house built to protect the people of Rochester from the tomahawk and scalping knife of the savages.
(Quoted from History of Rochester, Franklin McDuffee, 1892, Vol 1, p. 20.)
ROLLINSFORD
Sligo Garrison House: The Sligo garrison house was on a strip of land in the southern part of Rollinsford, near what is called "the Point" on the bank of the Newichwan-
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THE COLONIAL GARRISONS
noc River. Tradition is that the strip of land was named by James Stackpole, who, it is claimed, came from Sligo, Ireland. He was living here in 1680. James Stackpole's house "below Sligo garrison" is mentioned in 1709. The location of this garrison house was about opposite the Richard Nason garrison, on the Maine side of the river.
References : Landmarks in Ancient Dover, Mary P. Thompson, p. 64. Old Kittery and Her Families, Stackpole.
Pike Garrison: The site of the Pike garrison is near the Boston and Maine station on the road to Dover. This house was built about 1730, by Rev. James Pike, the first minister of Rollinsford, and was used as a garrison. In this house the Rev. George Whitefield, noted evangelist, was a guest.
RYE
Berry Garrison: The Berry garrison house at Sandy Beach was in existence as late as 1708. ... it is a tradition that at this garrison house the settlers had a blunderbuss, or large gun, which they fired to frighten the Indians ; but as powder was very precious in those days, it is not prob- able that it was fired unless hostile Indians were known to be in the vicinity. (History of Rye, by Langdon B. Par- sons, 1905, pp. 250-251.)
This garrison was probably built by William Berry, the first settler at Sandy Beach, who was granted in January, 1648-9, "a lot upon the neck of land upon the South side of the Little River at Sandy Beach." He died before June, 1654. New Hampshire Wills, Vol. 1, p. 800, shows that the above grant of the neck of land had been in possession of his son, James, and grandsons, John Berry and Joshua Foss, since William Berry's death; this estate was divided on the 13th of June, 1717, into six parts. At the time the old house and barn were in possession of Nathaniel Berry, another grandson.
The site of the Berry garrison house was on what is now Washington Road, near the beach. When a settlement was made at Joslyn's (later Locke's) Neck, it was found that one of a number of tall trees there, from the branches of which a view could be had of the Sandy Beach location, had been worn very smooth, supposedly by the climbing of Indians to watch the Berry garrison house and see when people left it and where they went.
Locke Garrison: John Locke, who settled at Joslyn's Neck, which thereafter for more than two hundred years was known as Locke's Neck (now Straw's Point), was noted among the Indians for the daring and success with
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which he fought them, and was hated by them in conse- quence. A raiding party of savages from the eastward landed one night at the Neck, concealed their canoes in the bushes, and proceeded inland to some point that had been selected to be attacked. Going into the bushes Sunday morning to read his Bible in solitude, Locke discovered the canoes, and immediately cut generous gashes in them with his knife, in places where the cuts would not be seen at a glance. The Indians, on returning to the place where they had left their canoes, after their murderous expedition, found the canoes apparently all right, not discovering in the darkness that they had been tampered with; but as soon as they put off from the shore, the canoes took in water so fast that they were compelled to hurry back to land. Finding the canoes damaged beyond repair, the savages were obliged to make their way eastward by land, suffering many hardships and losing several members of their party on the way. Afterward, a party came from the eastward with the express purpose of killing Locke, and surprised him as he was reaping grain in his field, his gun being some distance away, standing against a rock. Secur- ing possession of the gun, they shot him through the thigh and he fell prostrate, but as the savages ran up to toma- hawk and scalp him, he struck at one of them with his sickle, and cut off the savage's nose. This Indian, it is said, was seen in Portsmouth several times, years later, after trouble with the Indians had ceased in this section, and it was from his account of the manner in which he received his mutilation that the circumstances of Locke's last fight with the Indians were learned. The date of Locke's death was August 6th, 1694. (History of Rye, pp. 250-251.)
Garland Garrison: . . . The Garlands had a garrison house on Garland Road. (p. 251.) John Garland, grandson of the first John Garland, of Hampton, was born in that town April 13, 1692, and settled in Rye about 1720, where he was living as late as 1752. This John Garland, from the Garland genealogy in the History of Hampton, was the first one of the name to settle in Rye. He is probably the one who built the garrison house on Garland Road.
SALEM
Peaslee Garrison: The site of the garrison of Daniel Peaslee, one of the earliest settlers, was on the Silas Carey farm at the base of Spicket Hill. Here all the women and children of the outlying farms came to pass the nights; and here both religious and secular meetings were held as the
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THE COLONIAL GARRISONS
most convenient and acceptable place in the parish. (His- tory of Salem, Edgar Gilbert, 1907, pp. 58, 59, 78.)
Ayer's Garrison: The site of Captain Ebenezer Ayer's garrison, where a band of men had their stronghold against Indian attack, was on the north side of World's End Pond on the Ayer farm. (p. 58.)
SALMON FALLS, N. H. - SOUTH BERWICK, ME.
Tozier Garrison: The site of the Tozier garrison house was across the river from the Paul Wentworth house in Salmon Falls. This garrison was used by the settlers living on the New Hampshire side of the river as well as those on the Maine side. It was built by Richard2 Tozier, Jr., who, with his wife, Elizabeth (daughter of Elder William Went- worth), were more than once taken by Indians to Canada. as prisoners. Richard Tozier, Sr., lived first in Boston, and later in Dover, N. H. He was mortally wounded in an In- dian raid, October 16, 1675, at Salmon Falls, in the gar- rison house of a son, and later died in Kittery, Maine, as the result of his wounds. (Account of the Indian attack on the Tozier house, Vol. 42, pp. 188-195, New England His- toric Genealogical Register.)
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