USA > New Hampshire > Merrimack County > Boscawen > The history of Boscawen and Webster [N.H.] from 1733 to 1878 > Part 25
USA > New Hampshire > Merrimack County > Webster > The history of Boscawen and Webster [N.H.] from 1733 to 1878 > Part 25
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Previous to the present century, music had made' little progress in America. The Pilgrims brought with them Ainsworth's Version of the Psalms, which was used in the church at Plymouth from 1620 to 1732. The Psalms, as translated by the divines sum- moned by King James, and the paraphrase as made by Ains- worth, were printed in parallel columns. The first Psalm was thus rendered :
King James's Version. Psalm I.
" Blessed is the man that doeth not walk in the Counsell of the wicked ; nor Stand in the way of Sinners; nor sit in the seat of the scornfull.
" 2 But hath his delight in the law of Jehovah and in his law doeth meditate day & night."
Ainsworth's Paraphrase.
Psalm I.
" 1 O Blessed that doth not in the wicked's counsell walk; nor stand in sinner's way; nor sit in the seat of scornfull folk.
2 But setteth in Jehovah's law, his pleasureful delight; And in his law doth meditate by day & eke by night."
In 1640 the Bay State Psalm Book was published, which was in use for more than a century. The metrical structure of the Psalms was nearly the same as in Ainsworth. The 133d was thus rendered :
" 1 How good and sweet to see it's for brethren to dwell together in unitee:
" 2 It's like choice oyle that fell the head upon, that downe did flow the beard unto beard of Aron :
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[1712.
EDUCATIONAL HISTORY.
The skirts of his garment that unto them went down.
" 3 Like Herman's dews descent Sion's mountains upon, for there to bee the Lord's blessing life aye lasting commandeth hee."
This book was a great favorite. It was revised and reprinted, in 1758, by Rev. Thomas Prince, pastor of the Old South Church, Boston ; and it is almost certain that the first settlers of Boscawen were accustomed to sing such poetry in their Sunday service.
It is probable that those who came to Contoocook from New- bury were acquainted with Rev. Mr. Tufts's music-book, as Mr. Tufts was pastor of the Second church in Newbury, and in 1712 published a book containing twenty-eight tunes with rules. It bore the following title :
" A very plain and Easy Introduction to the Art of Singing Psalm Tunes; With the Cantus or Trebles of Twenty-eight Psalm Tunes Con- trived in such manners as that the Learner may attain the Skill of Singing them, with the greatest Ease and Speed imaginable."
Instead of notes, the first letter of each syllable was printed on the staffs,-f for fa, 1 for la. People sang by rote, and in conse- quence the melodies underwent many transformations.
Rev. Mr. Walters, a writer of the period, thus portrays the singing of his time :
" Singing sounds like five hundred different tunes roared out at the same time. The singers often are two words apart, producing noises so hideous and disorderly as is bad beyond expression. The notes are prolonged so that I myself have twice in one note paused to take breath."
As there were no rules, all sang as they pleased, without regard to time. Some of the ministers saw that a reform was impera- tive; that to have anything like uniformity in singing, there must be rules governing the rhythm and regulating the time ; that people must learn to sing by rule instead of by rote. Rev. Mr. Tufts, Rev. Cotton Mather, of Boston, and Rev. Mr. Walters, were zealous advocates for a reform. The attempt to bring about
.
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EDUCATIONAL HISTORY.
1770.]
a new order of things produced great disturbance, and the excite- ment was at its height at the time the settlers of Contoocook be- gan their plantation. Ministers and people alike took sides upon the all-important question, the young people advocating a reform, and the old ones opposing it. Various were their objections. It was a new way; it was not as good as the old way : there were so many tunes in Rev. Mr. Tufts's book-twenty-eight-that no one could ever learn them. The new way would make a disturbance in the churches. It grieved good men, exasperated them, and made them behave in a disorderly manner. The new way was popish ; it would lead to the introduction of instruments. The names of the notes, fa, sol, la, were blasphemous ! The old way was good enough; the new way was a contrivance for designing persons to obtain money. The new way required a great deal of time to learn the rules; it made the young disorderly; it kept them from proper influences in the family.
These and many other equally weighty objections to Mr. Tufts's method were gravely set forth in sermons preached by the conservative ministers of the old school,-for in those days, as now, and as will be to the end of time, there were the old and the new schools.
The first settlers of Boscawen sang psalms. Not till a later day was there hymnology. In 1741, seven years after the settle- ment of Contoocook, Benjamin Franklin published an edition of Watts's Psalms and Hymns. About the same time Tait & Brady's " Book of Psalms & Metre " was published.
In 1764, Josiah Flagg, of Boston, published a book containing one hundred and sixteen tunes and two anthems,-the first book printed in America with the music in four parts.
In 1770, Mr. Billings published his first book, which became very popular. From that date to 1820 the musical compositions were in the style of Billings, Holden, Swan, and Reed.
The first settlers of Boscawen knew very little in regard to music. It is probable that the best singer among them could not sing more than a dozen tunes, the Old Hundredth and Windham being two of the number.
We may think of Dea. George Jackman, or Dea. Jesse Flan- ders, as sitting in front of the pulpit in the old log meeting-house, and reading a line of Ainsworth's Paraphrase, and the congre-
.
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EDUCATIONAL HISTORY.
[1807.
gation singing it-the air. That finished, a second line is read and sung, and so on through the psalm.
During the closing decade of the last century, hymn-books were introduced, and with them came the bass-viol and other instru- ments. Those who opposed the new method introduced by Rev. Mr. Tufts, argued correctly in regard to the use of instruments. Before the introduction of the viols, a pitch-pipe was used for "setting" the tune. The introduction of stringed and wind instruments produced a second excitement akin to that which agitated the churches a half century previous. Those who had the hardihood to play a viol were contemptuously called "fiddlers." An eccentric citizen, Doctor Eaton, a veterinary practitioner, who lived in the "Hollow," never became reconciled to their use. He called them wooden and catgut gods,-and they who used them were serving the devil !
The first teacher of music in Boscawen, probably, was Dea. Enoch Little, whose efforts in that direction are set forth in another place [see Biog. ]. Soon after, about 1795, Master Flagg, teacher in the common schools, taught singing on the Plain. Master Buell was another teacher of music.
BOSCAWEN MUSICAL SOCIETY.
At the close of the last century, or at the very beginning of the present, the Boscawen Musical Society was formed. It was in existence in 1801, as we know from an order given on the treasurer, Mr. Jeremiah Gerrish :
" Boscawen, Jan. 29th, 1801.
Mr. Jeremiah Gerrish
Treasurer for Boscawen Musical Society. Please to pay Mr. Som- ersby Pearson two dollars & fifty-eight cents for Bass viol strings & Clarrinet Reed.
Joshua Morse, for Comittee "
In 1807 the society appears to have been in a flourishing condi- tion. Thomas Cox was employed to instruct the members in singing.
" Boscawen Feb. 25, 1808 Lt Jeremiah Gerrish Treasurer for Boscawen Musical Society please
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EDUCATIONAL HISTORY.
1809.]
to pay Thomas Cox Twenty Eight dollars for teaching a singing school and tax on Singing Books.
Somersby Pearson Benj Clark Com." Joshua Morse
Two of the members of the society were Daniel and Ezekiel Webster: both contributed to the funds. Daniel purchased a bassoon, and waited a long while for his pay, as will be seen by the following paper :
ORDER.
" Lieut J Gerrish Treas of the Musical Society in Boscawen please to pay Mr Daniel Webster Esq, thirty-four Dollars a compensation for a Bazoon by order.
Somersby Pearson Joshua Morse Com."
Benj Clark
" May 21st 1807
Reced Twenty-three Dollars on this order
D. Webster "
" January 18, 1811 Recd of Lt Jere Gerrish eleven dollars in full on this order.
E Webster for D. Webster."
In 1810 we find Ezekiel Webster one of the committee of man- agement, as per the following order :
ORDER.
" Lt Jeremiah Gerrish Treasurer of the Boscawen Musical society. Sir, Please to pay Samuel W. Lang Twelve dollars out of the funds of the society it being for cash paid by him for Clarionett.
Somersby Pearson Com" Ezekiel Webster
In 1809, Mr. Joseph S. Garman was employed to teach singing- school, and the society purchased of him a bass-viol, paying $14. In 1812, John Kinney was instructor, and in 1815, Moses Win- gate. The funds of the society were obtained by annual tax and subscription.
Under this organization singing greatly improved. The " Vil- lage Harmony " was the book generally used. At the west end, under the energetic leadership of Dea. Enoch Little, followed by
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EDUCATIONAL HISTORY.
[1821.
Joseph Kimball and Samuel Little, musical culture had a rapid advance. Isaac Noyes, living on Water st., but attending meet- ing at the west end, became a proficient on the bass-viol. The choir under Dea. Little numbered about sixty. David Sweatt, still living, remembers a meeting of the choir on Corser hill, and the singing of a select piece,-
" Lord, what is man,-poor feeble man, Born of the earth at first? His life's a dream, an empty show, Still hastening to the dust."
It was the best singing he ever heard.
Musical culture was advancing throughout the state. Rev. Dr. McFarland, of Concord, took great interest in its advancement, and through his instrumentality the "Central Musical Society " was formed, composed of the best singers and instrumental per- formers in Concord, Boscawen, Hopkinton, Dunbarton, and ad- joining towns.
MARTIN LUTHER SOCIETY.
On Dec. 4, 1821, the prominent singers of the town met at the house of Benj. T. Kimball, on Water street, and organized a soci- ety for the cultivation of music of a higher order than had been attempted up to that time. The leading spirits in the enterprise were Benj. T. Kimball, Dr. John Rogers, Capt. J. C. Plummer, Henry Little, S. B. Little, Henry Little, Jr., Enoch Little, Stephen Sweat, Benj. Morrill, Nathaniel Morrill, Jeremiah Gerrish, of Bos- cawen, and Wm. G. Emerson. They applied for an act of incorpo- ration, which was granted July 3, 1822. Dr. John Rogers, a prom- inent physician, was elected president and leader. The society purchased the "Old Colony Collection of Anthems," the " Handel and Haydn Collection," and the "Social Harmony,"-collections containing music of a high order from Handel, Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, and an oratorio, "The Intercession," by King. The music required a much higher degree of culture than the music of by-gone days. Under the able leadership of Dr. Rogers the society made great progress, and soon brought about a revolution in the style of music used on the Sabbath. The fugues, that for a third of a century had been the delight of the people, gave place to
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EDUCATIONAL HISTORY.
1833.]
compositions richer in harmony,-the productions of the masters whose compositions still have power to charm the human ear.
From 1822 to 1830 the society maintained its vigor. It num- bered about fifty members, male and female. It was reorganized in 1837, at the house of Alonzo C. Chadwick, who was elected pres- ident, and who was succeeded by J. H. Coffin, now of Portland ; but emigration was telling upon the community, and other forces were at work to disintegrate the society, and the members, after a while, ceased to meet.
The bassoon purchased by Daniel Webster, the bass-viol by Ezekiel Webster and Joshua Morse, from the old Boscawen so- ciety, were handed down to this organization, and quite likely may still be in existence in some garret.
During the two decades,-1820 to 1840,-the choirs in town were accompanied by a variety of stringed and wind instruments -bass and double-bass viols, violins, flutes, clarionettes, bugles, and French horns.
At the east end, John Jackman, Dr. John Rogers, Alonzo C. Chadwick, and Charles J. Chadwick played the viols, Jacob Gerrish the flute, J. H. Coffin the trombone, which Rev. Mr. Price, not for the moment remembering the name, once appropriately called a " shoveration."
At the west end, Moses Thurston, Henry Little, Frederick Price, F. W. Coffin, and Enoch Coffin were violists, Sullivan Jackman played the bugle, Moses Bailey, M. G. Farmer, and Bitfield P. Little clarionettes.
In 1837, at the installation of Rev. E. Buxton, J. H. Coffin played a melodeon, an instrument moved by the arm, just then invented, manufactured by Charles Austin, of Concord, who also began the manufacture of seraphines. Dea. Jeremiah Gerrish, long the leader of the choir, an ardent lover of music, purchased the first instrument of this class manufactured in America. Miss Polly L. Gerrish, his daughter, endowed in a remarkable degree with musical genius, soon became an efficient and cultivated player. The introduction of this instrument soon led to the purchasing of one of greater power for the choir, supplemented at a still later date by the instrument now in use.
In 1833, N. D. Gould, of Boston, taught a juvenile school at the academy, also one for adults. He was a composer as well as
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EDUCATIONAL HISTORY. [1850.
teacher, and some of his contributions are still in use,-especially the tune " Woodland," to the words,-
" There is a home for weary souls, By sin and sorrow driven ; When tossed on life's tempestuous shoals, Where storms arise and ocean rolls, There's nothing true but heaven."
The refined taste of Dea. Gould had a marked influence upon the singers of the period.
At the east end, Prof. John Jackman, at an early date, ob- tained a "seraphine." In 1840, Benjamin Morrill began the manufacture of musical instruments in the house now occupied by Charles E. Chadwick.
The same year the choir at the west end employed Wm. D. Buck,-then of Concord, later, physician at Manchester,-to teach music. He was an energetie instructor, an organist, and far bet- ter acquainted with the science of music than any one that had preceded him. He taught, also, at the west end in 1841, and at the same time at the east end. He introduced the "Boston Acad- emy" collection of sacred music, and established the choirs in both churches on a new foundation. He was followed at the east end by J. C. Cram, and other teachers, while at the west end, or at Bashan, Enoch Coffin, Enoch Little, J. P. Farmer, Jeremiah Run- nels, and C. C. Coffin taught, followed, in later years, by James L. Gerrish and Henry Pearson. At the east end, Prof. John Jack- man has supplemented the labors of his predecessors.
From 1840 to 1850, several of the singers of Boscawen attend- ed the annual sessions of the Boston Academy of Music.
In musical culture Boscawen and Webster have ever maintain- ed high rank. The impetus given by Dea. Enoch Little, from 1790 to 1800, never has lost its force. Successive leaders have lighted, as it were, their torches by the fire kindled by him, in the house of Henry L. Dodge, nearly a century ago, and given to the towns a standing in musical culture unequalled by any other rural community.
Enach Little
BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
HE men who lay the foundation of society, and those who rear the superstructure of a Christian civilization, are worthy of all honor. In all ages, in every land, by every people, they who do great things for their fellow-men are held in honorable re- membrance. The Assyrians placed their heroes in the heavens, enthroning them amid the stars. We behold their warrior Nimrod, the Orion of the Bible, nightly making the circuit of the heavens, the brightest constellation of the northern sky. The Greeks found places for their heroes in the Pantheon, amid the gods. The people of China guard with reverential care the halls of their ancestors, and, in their reachings after immortality, picture to themselves the filial devotion of dutiful sons, who will rear tablets to their memory in the halls of their fathers. It will be the con- summation of eternal bliss to be held in remembrance by their sons for their virtuous acts. The Norsemen pictured to them- selves a Valhalla, where the great and good should live forever. And, to-day, Germany rears her Hall of Fame, where those who have served their country well shall be forever held in remem- brance. So we rear our memorial structure to commemorate the dead.
The recital of what men have done for their fellow-men is ever an incentive to right action, and the narration of the events of an honorable and virtuous life is a stimulus to those still toiling along the weary way. So we make record of those who have hon- ored the town that gave them birth, or that may claim them as her sons. Only brief outlines of their lives can be given. What other locality can present such a roll of honor as Boscawen and Webster ?
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
First in honorable mention we place those who laid the founda- tions,-who cleared the forests ; who reared their humble homes in the wilderness ; who braved the dangers of a frontier life through a dark and gloomy period, when vigilance was the price of life- the preservation of themselves and those whom they held most dear; who established the church and the school; who were un- swerving patriots when Liberty called them. Through the trials, hardships, and devotion of the first settlers of Contoocook; through their religious convictions, making the maintenance of relig- ious institutions their first duty ; through the patriotism of the men of the Revolution,-all subsequent events became possible. "Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap." There is no grander law in nature. No community can reap a harvest of men, without sowing the seed that produces men. The settlers of Contoocook comprehended this divine law : they sowed good seed, and, lo, the harvest !
FIRST SETTLERS.
BARKER, DAVID.
Nothing definite is known in regard to this settler. His name does not appear upon the proprietors' records. He was not a proprietor. It is probable that he did not long remain.
BEAN, SINKLER.
This settler, the first of the name of all those of the Merrimack valley, so far as is known, came with the first party in 1734. He remained in Contoocook till the settlement of Salisbury, when he. became a resident of that town, where many of his descendants now reside. His name appears frequently upon the records, ap- pointed on committees in positions of trust and honor. He was a leading and influential citizen in Salisbury.
BOWEN, JOHN.
Diligent research fails to discover whence this settler came. It is probable that he was related to Anthony and Henry Bowen,
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
of Penacook, and probably a brother of Peter, who killed Sabbatis and Plansawa. He served as a ranger, and had a great antipathy to the Indians.
BOHONNON, ANDREW.
He was a native of Ireland. It is not known what year he em- igrated to America. He was unmarried in 1734, when he became a settler in Contoocook, marrying Tabitha Flanders, daughter of Dea. Jacob Flanders, who was born April 7, 1711. He became an active citizen. He was a man of great energy and endurance. In 1755 he enlisted for six months in Col. Blanchard's regiment, for an expedition against Crown Point. The regiment had its rendezvous at South Franklin, on the Webster farm, now the Home for Orphans. Several weeks were spent in building boats, in which the regiment was to ascend the Merrimack and Baker's river to Warren, transport the boats to the Connecticut, and from thence ascend some branch of that stream which would take them to Lake Champlain !- so little understood was the geog- raphy of Vermont at that time. When it was discovered that such a route was impossible, the regiment descended the Merri- mack to Nashua, and from thence marched to Worcester and Albany.
At this date Bohonnon probably resided on land now owned by Mrs. Farnum Coffin, at the southerly end of Water street, but soon after removed to Salisbury, settling near the south village. He was active in the public affairs of that town. During the Revolution he was a devoted patriot, and served as lieutenant in Capt. Ebenezer Webster's company in the battle of Bennington.
He had several sons, who were also active patriots ;- Jacob, who was a private in Capt. Webster's company; Annaniah, who en- listed for three years, in 1780, in Capt. Gray's company, Scammel's regiment, Continental troops; Stephen, another son, who was a soldier at West Point at the time of Arnold's treason, and was sentinel at Washington's head-quarters the night after the discoy- ery. He stated that Washington spent the entire night in writing.
Andrew Bohonnon died in Salisbury, at an advanced age.
BISHOP, JOSIAH.
Of the parentage of Josiah Bishop, nothing is known. It is
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
probable that he came from Newbury with his family in 1733. He lived at the southerly end of King street. Upon the outbreak of hostilities with the Indians in 1746, he was captured while at work in the field, and taken into the woods. [See Civil Hist.] He was determined not to go to Canada a prisoner, and resisted the Indians, who buried their tomahawks in his skull, as was after- wards ascertained.
BURRANK, MOSES, CAPT.
He came from Bradford. The records of the proprietors make no mention of his being elected captain over any military organi- zation in Contoocook, and it may be inferred that he received his title before moving into the town. In 1746, at the time of the Indian outbreak, the settlers formed themselves into a military band, and Capt. Rollins was elected commander ; but there is no evidence that he remained long in town. It is known that the military organization was kept up during the Indian troubles, and it is possible that Capt. Burbank was the com- mander. He resided on Queen street, on what has since been known as the "Clark" farm. He married Sarah Emery, prob- ably sister of Edward Emery. He reared a family of six sons and three daughters, and was the progenitor of the Burbank family in Boscawen and vicinity. His name frequently appears upon the records as a public officer, and as member of committees. The date of his birth is not known, nor his death, but he was in the full possession of his mental powers in 1792, when he gave his deposition to Col. Henry Gerrish, stating the number of settlers in the town in 1733, and the number of proprietors' rights partially improved.
CALL, PHILIP.
One of the most active of the first settlers upon the outbreak of Indian hostilities, in 1744, was Philip Call, who had moved to Contoocook 1733. His name appears upon the roll of Capt. Jere- miah Clough's company as a scout, from September 26 to Decem- ber 18 of that year, receiving as wages, £3 10s. ; for provisions, £3 3s. He was out with Capt. Clough again in 1745, from Jan- uary 21 to March 18; and again in 1746, from July 4 to Decem- ber 4; and again in 1747, from June 5 to November 12.
After the close of hostilities in 1749, he moved up the Merri-
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
mack, a little more than a mile beyond the line of Contoocook, to the fertile intervale of Bakerstown (South Franklin), and began a clearing on the Webster farm. While living there, in 1754, the Indians made a descent upon the place, and killed Mrs. Call, as already narrated in the journal of events. It is supposed that Philip Call lived and died in Salisbury, and that he was buried in the cemetery at South Franklin ; but no stone marks his resting-place. It is not unlikely that the Indians were well acquainted with Philip Call. He was a good Indian fighter, and possibly they took particu- lar pleasure in making a descent upon his place. His son Stephen was one of the first selectmen of Salisbury, upon the organization of the town in 1768. He served in Capt. Webster's company, Col. Nichols's regiment, in the Rhode Island campaign, 1776. The Call family of Franklin and Hill are descendants of Philip.
COOK, THOMAS.
This enterprising settler, soon after moving into town in 1733, instead of remaining at the " town " on King street, pushed north- west, and built a cabin near " Mutton " road, leading from Corser hill to Salisbury. It stood near " Little" brook, from which he obtained water. The place is now marked by the stump of a large pine, which was felled a few years since by Mr. Luther Titcomb.
The reason which prompted Mr. Cook to push six miles beyond his fellow-citizens was undoubtedly the desire to be conveniently near a locality where he could obtain an abundance of fresh meat. There were patches of meadow around "Couch " pond, and on Beaver-dam brook, which were favorite resorts for deer, and by locating in the vicinity Mr. Cook would have his provisions near at hand.
Upon the breaking out of hostilities in 1746, Mr. Cook deemed it prudent to leave his cabin. He was at work near Clay hill, with others, on the 4th of May, 1746, when the Indians fired up- on the party, killing him and a negro-Cæsar, slave to Rev. Mr. Stevens. [See Civil History.] It is stated that Cæsar, though wounded, fought with great bravery, and was only despatched after a fearful struggle.
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