USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > Manchester > The Londonderry celebration. Exercises on the 150th anniversary of the settlement of old Nutfield, comprising the towns of Londonderry, Derry, Windham, and parts of Manchester, Hudson and Salem, N.H., June 10, 1869. > Part 8
USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > Hudson > The Londonderry celebration. Exercises on the 150th anniversary of the settlement of old Nutfield, comprising the towns of Londonderry, Derry, Windham, and parts of Manchester, Hudson and Salem, N.H., June 10, 1869. > Part 8
USA > New Hampshire > Rockingham County > Londonderry > The Londonderry celebration. Exercises on the 150th anniversary of the settlement of old Nutfield, comprising the towns of Londonderry, Derry, Windham, and parts of Manchester, Hudson and Salem, N.H., June 10, 1869. > Part 8
USA > New Hampshire > Rockingham County > Derry > The Londonderry celebration. Exercises on the 150th anniversary of the settlement of old Nutfield, comprising the towns of Londonderry, Derry, Windham, and parts of Manchester, Hudson and Salem, N.H., June 10, 1869. > Part 8
USA > New Hampshire > Rockingham County > Windham > The Londonderry celebration. Exercises on the 150th anniversary of the settlement of old Nutfield, comprising the towns of Londonderry, Derry, Windham, and parts of Manchester, Hudson and Salem, N.H., June 10, 1869. > Part 8
USA > New Hampshire > Rockingham County > Salem > The Londonderry celebration. Exercises on the 150th anniversary of the settlement of old Nutfield, comprising the towns of Londonderry, Derry, Windham, and parts of Manchester, Hudson and Salem, N.H., June 10, 1869. > Part 8
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I thank you and the other gentlemen of the committee for designating me as one of the speakers. I cannot promise much in this direction, but will surely come if Providence permits, and will try to make a few desultory remarks touching some of the events and habits of the last fifty years or more. Should there be more speakers than there will be time to hear, I shall of course be content to be a hearer ..
I trust the occasion will be interesting and profitable to the towns specially interested in it. I have endearing as- sociations with Derry and Londonderry. My best wishes attend you and the occasion.
With much esteem and affection,
DANIEL FITZ.
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[From Rev. Dr. Anderson.]
BOSTON, MASS., May 21, 1869.
MR. R. C. MACK :
My Dear Sir,-My ancestors being among the settlers of Londonderry, and my honored father a native, I found myself drawn to your one hundred and fiftieth anniversary, and I was glad to receive your kind invitation to be pres- ent ; but my relations and duties are such that I must go in an opposite direction about that time, and so must lose the advantage and pleasure of a stimulus to my Scotch Irish blood. I shall be with you in spirit, and may the God of our fathers add his blessing to the occasion.
I am, dear sir,
Very respectfully and truly yours,
RUFUS ANDERSON.
ANTIQUARIAN TENT.
IN a small tent, near the large one, the following articles were on exhibition. They were mainly collected in Derry and Londonderry, and multitudes of people manifested much interest in the examination of them :
A model of ancient stocks, used for punishing sleepers in church, and other offenders, made by Mr. B. F. Gregg.
A hog-yoke one hundred and twenty-five years old, illus- trating the by-law on the town records providing that all hogs shall be yoked from the first of June until the last of September.
Various Indian implements found in Londonderry.
A pane of glass from the second dwelling-house erected in town, two inches wide by three inches long.
The lunch box of John Wallace, the ancestor of Rev. Dr. C. W. Wallace, contributed by Mrs. Jonathan Aiken.
A scout-horn, used in watering linen.
Plates brought over from Ireland in 1720, by emigrants, who, soon after embarking, were captured by a pirate ship. Soon after the capture, a daughter was born to one of the emigrants on board the pirate ship, to whose possession the plates subsequently fell. They are now the property of her great-grand daughter.
A large iron pot, brought from Ireland in 1718, and used in common by the first sixteen families, for culinary pur- poses.
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An iron tackle from the ship which brought over the first colonists in 1718.
The barrel of the first drum used in the town.
A pair of ancient snow-shoes, from Mr. Foster T. Bailey.
An ancient compass, which was used in surveying and laying out many towns in Hillsborough county.
Candle-wood torches and tinder-box.
Hackle for carding flax.
An ancient foot-stove.
A powder-horn, used at the siege of Derry, in Ireland, and brought over by Rev. James McGregore, the first min- ister ; also, Mr. McGregore's small horn drinking cup.
Ancient sun-dial, once the property of Deacon
Thomas Datterfor
A curious ax, made one hundred and thirty years ago, by
John mack.
Various implements, illustrating the manner of lighting the dwellings of the early settlers, among which was a large wooden candlestick, the portion containing the candle being elevated or depressed by a wooden screw. There was also a small and curious iron cup, attached to a hook, by which it was hung on the crane to keep the tallow in it warm.
A large number of autographs of the early settlers and other prominent men of the town.
A well-preserved pine-tree shilling, which was sent to Ireland soon after the settlement of the town, as a speci-
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men of the currency, and there kept till 1842, when it was given to Dr. James McKeen, of Topsham, Maine.
Photographs of silhouettes of Hon. John Prentice and Gen. George Reid.
SomPrentice Serrer
A pillion, contributed by Charles C. Parker, Esq.
The McGregore coat of arms, contributed by Mr. Alex- ander McGregor.
Samples of the wedding dresses of Elizabeth Clark and Annis Wallace.
Besides these, there were twenty specimens of the soil and rock of the old town, from as many localities,- from the " Five-and-twenty acre Meadow," from " Brandy Rock," " Moose Hill," " Swords Point Meadow," "Liggitt's Hill," " Rumney Marsh," the "Standing Stone," "Wigwam Meadow," " Leverett's Meadow," etc., etc.
FAC-SIMILES OF AUTOGRAPHS
OF PROMINENT LONDONDERRY MEN.
John Gaffe
Came to Londonderry from Boston, Mass., as early as 1719. He was of English descent, and to him, more than any ons, is the " English Range," in Derry, where he set- tled, indebted for its name. He was the first town clerk.
Melt Rogers
The well-known Major Rogers, of the French and Indian wars. He was born in Londonderry, and his death oc- curred in England. A grandson bearing the same name of the Ranger resides in Derry.
Jon Wallace
Like most of the grantees of Londonderry, John Wallace settled and lived upon his " Home Lot," and there he died in 1777. His was the fourth lot in the Aiken's Range, the same that is now owned and occupied by his great grand- son, David H. Pinkerton, Esq.
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Jakoger.
The first minister of Londonderry, was born in 1677, and died in 1729. During his brief pastorate of ten years, his influ- ence in town was unbounded in matters temporal as well as spiritual.
A Gun carried in the famous siege of Derry, in 1688-89, is now in possession of A. F. Hall, Esq., of Manchester, N. H. Additional interest attaches to it from the fact that Mr. MacGregor always carried it into his pulpit on the Sabbath, well loaded and primed, to be ready in case of sudden attack by the "Indian enemy." It is well represented by the artist.
Rott Clark.
Settled in 1725, on a fine tract of land north of Lake Shoneeto, otherwise called Beaver Pond. He was a man of parts, and the town often availed itself of his schol- ʻ arly attainments in matters pertaining to its municipal affairs. He died in 1775, on the evening of the day of the battle of Bunker Hill.
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James Mc Scon
Better known as Justice McKeen, was a man of much con- sequence in the infant colony. He died in 1756. Among his many descendants are the Rev. Dr. Silas McKeen, of Bradford, Vermont, and Dr. James McKeen, of Topsham, Maine.
The first person born in Londonderry was
Jonathon morison
This event occurred September 8, 1719. He was an uncle of Hon. Jeremiah Smith. He removed to Peterborough, N. H., and thence to Vermont, where he died in 1778.
agregare
The first minister of the West Parish, was born in 1709. He died May 30, 1777.
John Dickey
Born of honorable parentage, January 19, 1766, early en- gaged in trade, and was long a leading merchant in the West Parish in Londonderry. He served as town clerk three years, representative three years, and selectman eleven. In 1819 he removed to New York, taking with him seven sons and three daughters, all of whom are living and occupying positions of affluence and high respecta- bility.
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Janves Wallace
Lived on the farm now owned by Aaron Parker Hardy, in Londonderry. He married Mary Wilson, who was born on board the famous pirate ship in 1720. He died October 30, 1791, and is described by one who knew him well, as a " kind-hearted man, and a man of prayer."
Grace tham
Was an eminent physician. He also kept tavern many years, and enjoyed great popularity as a landlord. He lived on the home lot originally laid out to John McNeil, and was the first postmaster of Londonderry.
Dr. Morrison was settled over the West Parish, in Lon- donderry, February 12, 1783, and continued its minister until his death, March 9, 1818.
Elias. Fastnet. Derby
Long a successful merchant of Salem, Mass., died in 1799. To his sagacity and enterprise the country is indebted for the opening up of trade with the East Indies. He was father of General
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Chiaro Had het Devlin
Who resided a few years where the Hon. John Prentice had previously lived. He was the father of Hon. Elias H. Derby, of Boston, Mass., whose portrait may be found else- where in this volume.
Henry Campbell
Was a native of Windham, N. H., but married in London- derry, and there he lived for many years. In his younger days he employed himself in teaching, and had the reputa- tion of being a man of unusual intelligence. He was a fair representative of the Argyle stock. He died at Fletch- er, Vt., April 11, 1813.
beler Patterson
Was born in 1716, in the county of Antrim, in Ireland. He came to Londonderry in 1736, lived in the West Parish, and died March 28, 1800.
John Fisher
" The sweet remembrance of the just Shall flourish though they sleep in dust."
William Patterson
Son of Deacon Thomas Patterson, was born June 4, 1789. In 1815 he took up his residence in New York. In 1837 and 1838, he was Representative in Congress from the Genesee district of that state. He died August 14, 1838.
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DIVISION OF LONDONDERRY.
In 1827 the town was divided. The West Parish retained the old name, while the East Parish was incorporated under the name of Derry. The following named men were in active life at that time :
Peter Patterson Alanson Jucker John Duncan Robert Pattinson John Holmes Thomas Patterson Robert Marko
Of these men, all are dead except the last.
THE DINNER, ETC.
THE number of people gathered to participate in the cele- bration was immense. It was judged by men used to esti- mating public assemblies, that not less than ten thousand were present.
The dinner was a bountiful and substantial one, and it can be truthfully said "a great multitude was fed." Some idea of the quantity of food furnished can be gathered when it is stated that a half ton of corned beef was provided, five hundred pounds of ham, five hundred pounds of tongue, be- sides an immense quantity of doughnuts, pies, tarts, cake, etc., provided by nearly every family in the town of Derry, Londonderry and Windham, together with baker's bread and an abundance of delicious coffee. Plates and provi- sions were passed through the tent, and all were served with more alacrity than we sometimes find at what are called first-class hotels. The ladies of old Londonderry deserve . very much credit for the excellent cooking which they fur- nished on this occasion. The dinner was a social one, and a communion of friends which lasted more than an hour.
During the forenoon session, Gilmore's Band played most exquisitely the following music : "Nightingale Polka," " Soldier," from " Duchess," " Polka," Arbuckle, " Colum- bus Galop; " and after dinner, "Star Spangled Banner," " Bonnie Doon," " Battle Cry of Freedom," with inimitable variations by Arbuckle, John Brown, etc.
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The newspaper press was represented at the celebration by reporters from the "Manchester Daily Mirror," and " Manchester Daily Union," the "Concord Monitor," and Concord "Statesman," the "New York Tribune," the "Boston Journal," " Advertiser" and "Herald," the "Am- herst Cabinet," the "Nashua Gazette," and the "Tele- graph," and the Lawrence " Sentinel."
The Derry squad of Amoskeag Veterans were accom- panied by a band of veteran drummers and fifers, who made music like that of "ye olden time." The following are their names :
Drummers-Major Beals, of Chester ; Major Brickett, of Derry ; Charles Abbott, of Concord; Major Lear, of Epsom.
Fifers-Major Gove, of Concord ; E. H. Brown, of Law- rence ; C. F. Wheeler, of Derry ; William Leach, of Derry.
Among the many distinguished persons from other states who were upon the speakers' stand, were Hon. John Bell Dinsmore, of Ripley, N. Y., and his brother, Hon. James Dinsmore, of Kentucky ; Rev. Dr. Silas McKeen, of Brad- ford, Vermont ; Dr. James McKeen, of Topsham, Maine ; Hon. William B. Dinsmore, of New York City; Isaiah Dickey, Esq., of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania ; John P. Dickey, Esq., and William G. Dickey, Esq., of Livingston County, New York ; Rev. James Aiken, of Hanover, Mass. ; Hon. Samuel F. Humphrey, of Bangor, Maine ; John Pinkerton, Esq., John Anderson, Esq., and William S. Anderson, Esq., of Boston. A few ladies were upon the platform, and graced the occasion by their presence.
The compiler of the preceding pages acknowledges val- uable assistance from many friends, especially from Hon. Charles H. Bell, of Exeter ; and he would not forget the kindness of Hon. George W. Patterson, Hon. Elias H. Derby, and Mrs. Mark Baker, of Tilton, N. H., to whose thoughtful generosity the readers of this volume are in- debted for many of its autographs.
POEM.
[THE following poem, from the pen of Dr. Sylvanus Brown, was written for the occasion, but received to late to be read.]
The red men from Nutfield have melted away; There are none left to join us in worship to-day. We find their spent arrows, but never a bone, And the place of their graves here to us is unknown.
Our sires bought their land here, some good twelve miles square, And held from their sachem a title deed fair ; So they with our fathers were never at war, For oppression and plunder all good men abhor.
They gathered for worship beneath an oak tree, And the spot is still marked with a stone, as we see ; And raising their hearts and their voices in prayer. Invoked His protection who first led them there.
McGregor his flock like a shepherd did feed, A shining exemplar in word and in deed, He led them in worship and joined them in work, Nor did their good pastor from field-labor shirk.
They had one way of worship, and went to one place, Not split into parties themselves to disgrace. They were called the Scotch Irish - no matter the name, Or whether from Shem, Ham or Japhet they came ; They were plain working people, and ate their own bread. The naked they clothed, the hungry they fed.
When the land they had purchased they farming begun ; They smote down the forests and let in the sun; They made them log cabins, and Gregg built a mill. Where sawing and grinding are carried on still.
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They planted them orchards, and good cider made, And wielded the ax, and the plow, and the spade, The hoe and the scythe, and the pitchfork and rake, And all, but the lazy, good livings could make.
Their ashes are resting on yon goodly hill ; Perhaps their freed spirits are guarding us still. . We will cherish their virtues and memories here, Who carried their dead to the grave on a bier.
Then welcome to us this memorial day ! Ere the like shall return we shall most pass away, To mingle with spirits akin to our own, To see as we're seen, and to know as we're known.
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LETTER FROM GOV. SHUTE TO COLONEL JOHN WHEELWRIGHT .*
[Through the research and kindness of Colonel A. H. Hoyt, of Boston, ed- itor of the "New England Historical and Genealogical Register," the follow- ing interesting and valuable letter is now, for the first time, made public. Colonel Wheelwright, it will be remembered, was one of the original grantees of Londonderry .- R. C. M.]
BOSTON, October 10th 1719.
SIR,
Yours of the 9th of October came safe to my hands with the Inclosed that you sent me at Piscataqua. What you said to me at Salem I remembered when the Assembly sat at Piscataqua and granted no Township to the Irish t Peo- ple at Nutfield, neither did they acquaint me that they were warned off: I am very much of your Opinion that let the land belong to whom it will it will be advantageous to the Country to have these People upon it, and cou'd heartily wish that I might receive some account from Great Britain
NOTES BY COLONEL HOYT.
* COLONEL or JUDGE JOHN WHEELWRIGHT, of Wells, Maine, was a son of Samuel, of Wells, and grandson of the famous Rev. John, of Exeter, etc. It was from this Colonel Wheelwright that the settlers of Nutfield, afterwards Londonderry, purchased their lands. Governor Shute and the Council of the Province of New Hampshire granted the township an act of incorporation, June 21, 1722, after repeated petitions for the grant. The petitions were laid upon the table, and the matter postponed by the Council from time to time on account of the unsettled boundary line between Massachusetts and New Hampshire.
The settlers of Nutfield did not relish this title. See address of those peo- ple to Gov. Shute, in Belknap, vol. iii., 346-49.
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to whom the unsettled Lands in New-Hampshire belong. As to the Grant that you have from the Indian Sagamoors I have perused it, and think it the strongest that ever I read - but am informed that when it was shewn in Eng- land there was little or no regard paid to it.
I shall be very thankfull of the 500 Acres # that you offer me if you can make me a good title to it - and shall be willing to do you all the Service in that affair that lys in my power. If that five hundred Acres that you offer me falls in Massachusetts District no doubt but then your Title is good, therefore I cou'd heartily wish that the lines betwixt the two Provinces were Settled, for I'm sure if New Hampshire complains home as they say they will, you will fare much worse than if it's settled amongst your- selves, for tho' you say the Danube and Other Rivers carry their Name even to the Sea, without any Alteration, yet I Know other Rivers that do not- As for Instance, from the Mouth of the Sea to Roterdam and fifty Miles farther there is a River called the Mayes, but when it comes to Nurim- inguen, it is called the Wall, and ten Miles farther it is called the Old Rine, and I'm told by very Knowing People that the River Merrymack does not keep its name to the Scourse of that water. I am Sir
Your humble Servant
SAMLL SHUTE. §
# Governor Shute received a grant of five hundred acres of land, together with a " Home Lot " of sixty acres from the proprietors of Londonderry.
§ Governor Shute was appointed to succeed Colonel Dudley as Governor of Massachusetts and New Hampshire, November, 1715 ; held the office about six years ; returned to England in 1723 ; died in 1742. He seems to have been a fair-minded man and an upright magistrate, but he had a hard time of it with the impracticable spirits around him. He was an early and steadfast friend of the settlers of Nutfield.
ERRATUM.
Page 38, 7th line from bottom, for "Persia" read Russia.
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