USA > New Hampshire > Merrimack County > Concord > The history of Concord : from its first grant in 1725, to the organization of the city government in 1853, with a history of the ancient Penacooks ; the whole interspersed with numerous interesting incidents and anecdotes, down to the present period, 1885 > Part 15
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HALE.
Joseph Hale was from Newbury - probably son of Joseph, a descendant of Thomas Hale, (glover,) " who, with his wife Tamosin or Thomasine, came to Newbury in 1635, and died December, 1682, aged seventy-eight."
HAZZEN.
Moses and Richard Hazzen, Jr., were from Haverhill. Richard was a graduate of Harvard College in 1717; surveyor in Penacook in 1726 and 1727 ; repre- sentative from Haverhill in 1742. Both Moses and Richard were connected with the Bradley family. [See Genealogical List - Ch., " Bradley Family" -nei- ther settled in Concord.] Richard Hazzen was one of the surveyors appointed by New-Hampshire to run ont and mark the boundary line fixed by the king, in 1740, between New-Hampshire and Massachusetts. [See Belknap's History, Farmer's ed., vol. i., p. 259.]
HALL.
Dea. Joseph Hall, from Bradford. One of the same name was deacon in the West Parish church of Bradford, in 1730. He drew one of the " Eleven Lots," (No. 2,) for his house and home lot, and settled there. July 5, 1736, he married Deborah Abbot, sister of Edward and George Abbot, by whom he had five children. [See Family Register.] He was deacon of the church in Concord more than forty years ; a benefactor to the poor, and an example of Christian virtues. During the hostilities of the Indians his house was a garrison. He
137
PROPRIETARY RECORDS.
died April 8, 1784, aged seventy-seven. Deborah, his wife, was a pattern of industry, economy, charity and piety. She rose, summer and winter, as early as four o'clock. "In the carly settlement of the town, going one day from her brother Edward's to her brother George's, she turned from the path to pick berries, near where the State House now stands, and lost her way. In her ninety-fifth year she fell and injured her limbs so that she could not walk."
JOHNSON.
Timothy Johnson is said by Mirick, in his history of Haverhill, (p. 246,) to have been from that place. John Farmer, Esq., reckons him as from Andover- son of Timothy, who died in 1719, aged eighty-eight.
JAQUES.
John Jaques is believed to have been from Bradford - none of the name are now in town.
JONES.
Nathaniel Jones - unknown.
KIMBALL.
Robert, Samuel and David Kimball were from Bradford. Probably the latter only finally settled in Concord. He was the father of Capt. Reuben Kimball, whose name often occurs in our history. He died November 20, 1745. [See Family Register. ] Thomas Kimball was an early settler in Bradford, and was shot by the Indians, May 3, 1676, and his wife and five children taken captive, who were afterward returned by the friendly offices of Wonalancet of Penacook. [See Ilistory of Haverhill.]
LOVEJOY.
Nathaniel and Ebenezer Lovejoy were brothers, and sons of John Lovejoy, of Andover, who died in 1690. Some of the family still live in Concord. Several of them have been distinguished for longevity.
LEARNED.
Thomas Learned was probably from Woburn.
MERRILL.
John Merrill, deacon, is believed to have come from Haverhill, (West Parish,) - probably a descendant of Nathaniel, brother of John Merrill, one of the first settlers in Newbury. Dea. Merrill's house was built on the hill at the lower end of Main street, where the roads part. The original well still remains, with good water in it. He was chosen deacon December 17, 1730. He kept the first ferry over the Merrimack river. [See Family Register.]
MATTIS.
John Mattis. His origin is not known - probably not a permanent settler.
MITCHELL.
Andrew Mitchell was from Newbury -believed to have been a descendant of William Mitchell, who died in Newbury in 1654.
NICHOLS.
Benjamin Nichols. His origin is not certainly known. There was a Nicholas Nichols, of Andover, in 1702.
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THE PLANTATION OF PENACOOK.
OSGOOD.
John and Stephen Osgood were cousins, from Andover - the former son of John, and the latter son of Stephen Osgood - both descendants from John Os- good, one of the founders of the church in Andover, October, 1645, who came from Andover, England; born July 23, 1595, and died October, 1651, aged fifty-six.
PARKER.
Benjamin, James and Nathan Parker were brothers, from Andover - sons of John Parker, who was born in 1653, and died in 1738, aged eighty-five- and grandsons of Nathan Parker, one of the founders of the church in Andover, in 1645 -born in England, and died in 1685.
Joseph Parker was son of Joseph Parker, son of Joseph who died in 1678 - one of the founders of the church in Andover (1645.) This family went from New- bury to Andover. It is not improbable that Joseph and Nathan were brothers. The descendants of these families still live in Concord. [ Sce Family Register.]
PAGE.
Nathaniel Page was from Haverhill, and, probably, Thomas and Joseph also. [See Mirick's Hist., p. 146.] Several of the name still remain in town.
PEASLEE.
Nathaniel and Robert Peaslee were from Haverhill - probably did not settle here. Nathaniel Peasley was representative from Haverhill in 1737, 1739 to 1742 ; 1746 to 1749; 1752 and 1753. In 1739 he was one of the General Court's committee on the disputed question of the boundary line between the provinces of Massachusetts and New-Hampshire.
PHILLIPS.
Rev. Samuel Phillips was minister of the South Parish church in Andover ; born February 28, 1690; graduated at Harvard College in 1708; ordained at Andover October 17, 1711, and died June 5, 1771. His right in Penacook was carried on by William Peters. His two sons, Samuel and John, were distin- guished men -the latter as founder of Exeter Academy and of the Phillips Professorship of Divinity in Dartmouth College - now tilled by Rev. Daniel J. Noyes, first pastor of the South Congregational Church in Concord. Rev. Mr. Phillips was one of the council that ordained Rev. Timothy Walker at Pena- cook, November 18, 1730, and gave him the charge.
PULSIPHIER.
Jonathan Pulsipher's origin is not known. None of the name now resident in Concord.
PECKER.
John Pecker is believed to have come from Haverhill. He was a leading and useful man in town -- supposed to be the ancestor of the late Jeremiah Pecker, Esq., who deceased August 12, 1843, aged seventy-one. James and Jeremiah Pecker, both of Haverhill, were graduates of Harvard College - 1743 and 1757.
PEABODY.
John Peabody was probably from Salisbury, Massachusetts. None of the family now in Concord.
REYNOLDS.
Samuel Reynolds. Whence he came to Concord, unknown.
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PROPRIETARY RECORDS.
ROLFE.
Henry Rolfe, Esq., was from Newbury - a descendant of Henry, son of Hon- our Rolfe, who came to Newbury among the first settlers, and died in 1643. [See Family Register.] Henry Rolfe, Esq., was one of the commission ap- pointed by Massachusetts, in 1737, on the question of the boundary line between Massachusetts and New-Hampshire. [Sce Belknap's Hist., note, p. 243, 1737.]
SANDERS.
John Sanders, John Sanders, Jr., and Jonathan Sanders -the two former, father and son, were from Haverhill - probably, also, Nathaniel Sanders. John Sanders was representative from Haverhill from 1720 to 1726, and was one of " the Committee of the Great and General Court " for the settlement of Pena- cook. Nathaniel Sanders forfeited his rights to Nathan Webster, Esq., of Ha- verhill.
STEVENS.
Benjamin and Ebenezer Stevens were brothers, from Andover-sons of John Stevens, son of John, a member of Rev. Mr. Dane's church in Andover, and who died in 1662. Cupt. Benjamin Stevens, " one of the principal inhabitants " of Andover, who died in 1730, aged seventy-three, was also son of the first John, and unele of Benjamin and Ebenezer.
SIMONDS.
James and Nathan Simonds were probably from Woburn.
SNOW.
Zerobbabel Snow. From whenee he came is unknown. The name is not found at present in Concord. He owned a lot on what is now called the Borougli, and for him is named Snow's Pond.
SIIIPLEY.
Jonathan Shipley. Whence from not known.
TOPPAN.
Bezaleel and Samuel Toppan were from Newbury. Rev. Bezaleel Toppan was born March 7, 1705, and was son of Rev. Christopher Toppan, pastor of a church in Newbury, who died July 23, 1747, in his seventy-sixth year. Bezaleel was a graduate of Harvard College in 1722; preached a while at Penacook ; was settled in Salem, Massachusetts, and died in 1762, aged fifty-seven. Samuel Toppan was born November 24, 1702, and was son of Samuel, son of Dr. Peter Toppan, and cousin of Rev. Bezaleel. Their common ancestor was Abraham Toppan, who came to Newbury in 1637.
URANN.
Richard Urann, it is believed, was from Newbury. The name still continues in Concord.
VIRGIN.
Ebenezer Virgin. His origin is uncertain, though, probably, he came from Salisbury.
WRIGIIT.
John Wright.
WHITE.
Nicholas and William White were from Haverhill. John White was repre-
140
THE PLANTATION OF PENACOOK.
sentative from Haverhill in 1715 and 1716, and again in 1719. William White was representative in 1733 and 1734.
WISE.
Ruhamah Wise. He may have been connected with Rev. John Wise, minister of a parish in Ipswich.
WALKER.
Isaac Walker was from Woburn - a relative of Rev. Timothy Walker, from the same place. Isaac Walker was father of Isaae, Jr., grandfather of Abiel, lately deceased, who lived on the spot where his grandfather built his log house. Isaae Walker, (Jr.,) died on the same day that Rev. Timothy Walker died. [See Town Records.] In 1746 the house of Timothy Walker, Jr., that stood about where George Hutchins now lives, was a garrison. He was a son of Isaac Walker, Sen.
WOOD.
David Wood. This is a Newbury name. He had a house lot at or near the brook north of the late George Arlin's, and hence the brook is called " Wood's Brook."
WHITTIER.
William Whittier was from Haverhill. He forfeited his right, by not paying, to Joseph Gerrish, Esq.
WICOMB.
Thomas Wicomb forfeited his right to Joseph Parker, of Andover.
WINN.
Edward Winn is believed to have been from Woburn.
BRADLEY.
Abraham Bradley was not an original proprietor, but came to Penacook as early as 1729. His name first appears on the Proprietors' Records March 31, 1730, as one of a " committee to amend and repair the necessary roads in Penny Cook, and, also, to build a bridge over the Sow-Cook river as soon as may be, at the cost of the settlers." He had but little education, and he usually made his mark for his name. He was, however, a man of sound judgment, and be- came one of the most enterprising and useful citizens.
FARRINGTON.
Stephen Farrington - not an original proprietor, but an early settler - came to Penacook from Andover; bought of Danicl Rolfe, (1734,) lots laid out to the original right of Thomas Blanchard ; afterward bought lots laid out to Na- thanicl Peaslee and Robert Peaslee. He married Apphia, a daughter of Abra- ham Bradley, and was an enterprising, useful citizen.
SHUTE.
Jacob Shute came to Penacook with Capt. Ebenezer Eastman. [See biograph- ical notice.]
STICKNEY.
Jeremiah Stickney came from Bradford about 1731 - not an original proprietor, but became a valuable citizen. His descendants have held prominent offices in town. [Sce Family Register.]
CHAPTER IV.
RUMFORD INCORPORATED.
FROM 1731 till 1733 the settlement at Penacook was in a transition state from a plantation to an incorporated town. The petition of Henry Rolfe, Esq., Dec. 1732, was so far successful that, as we have seen, "the inhabitants" of Penacook were allowed to hold legal meetings, for the choice of officers, and to raise money for necessary town purposes. But they were under the immediate direction of " the Great and General Court," who appointed the moderator of the meetings. This state of things continued till near the close of the year 1733-4, when the Act of Incorporation for the township by the name of RUMFORD, was obtained .* The origin of this name we have been unable to determine. It is supposed to have been given from that of a parish in England, from which some of the proprietors origin- ated ; but which of them, we cannot tell.
* The proceedings preliminary to the Act of Incorporation were as follows : " Samnel Game, Esq., brought down a petition of Henry Rolfe, Esq., for him- self and the other grantees of the plantation of Penny Cook, praying that they might be heard to make it appear to the Court that they have fulfilled the con- ditions of their grant, and that thereupon they may be allowed to bring in a bill to crect the plantation into a township, for the reasons mentioned. Passed in council.
February 8, 1733, Read and Ordered, That Thomas Cushing and Edward Godard, Esqrs., with such as shall be joined by the honorable house, be a com- mittee to consider of this petition, and report, as soon as may be, what may be proper for this court to do thereon.
Sent down for concurrence.
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HISTORY OF RUMFORD.
The proceedings of the inhabitants while in transition from a " plantation " to a township, are not otherwise important than as illustrating the order and resolution with which the " inhabit- ants carried forward their enterprise. Capt. Ebenezer Eastman was moderator ;* twenty shillings were offered " for encourage- ment of killing wolves in the township," and six pence for rat- tle-snakes,-"provided that the destroyer of such snakes shall bring in a black joint of the tail, or with the tail, to the select- men ;" also, "a penny for killing of black-birds - the head being brought to the selectmen, or any of them, and burnt." In December, 1733, thirty pounds were voted to be drawn out of the treasury for the use of the inhabitants and freeholders of the plantation ; also, a sum sufficient to pay all just debts, and " sixteen pounds for to pay a school for this present winter and spring following ; and that the selectmen shall find books for the use of the inhabitants and freeholders, on the town's cost, so far as they shall think necessary."
In January, (16,) 1733-4, fifty pounds were appropriated to Rev. Mr. Walker, " for building of him a dwelling-house in Pen- ny Cook, provided he gives a receipt that he has received in full
Read and concurred. Capt. Hill, Mr. Hobson and Mr. Hall are joined in the affair.
February 9, 1733. The committees reported thereon that the petitioners had leave to bring in a bill.
" An Act for erecting a new town within the County of Essex, at a plantation called Penny Cook, by the name of Rumford.
Whereas, the plantation of Penny Cook, so called, of the contents of seven miles square, and one hundred rods, extending on the south bounds the full breadth of said plantation, which has by this court formerly been [and hereby is] declared to lie in the County of Essex, is competently filled with inhabit- ants who have built and finished a convenient meeting-house for the publie worship of God, and some time since have settled a learned Orthodox minis- ter among them ; and have, to full satisfaction, complied with all the articles and conditions of their grant respecting their settlement, and thereupon have addressed this court to be erected into a separate and distinct township, and hold and enjoy equal powers and privileges with the other towns in the province :
Be it enacted by His Excellency the Governor, Council and Representatives, in General Conrt assembled, and by the authority of the same, That the planta- tion of Penny Cook, in the County of Essex, as the same is hereafter bounded
* See list of officers, at the close of this chapter.
143
IHISTORY OF RUMFORD.
for his salary in times past, until this day, for the decay of money - it not being equal to silver at seventeen shillings the ounce."
1734.
From this period the affairs of the new town proceeded with regularity and safety, till 1737. The proprietors' books and papers, that had been faithfully kept by John Wainwright, Esq., were delivered into the hands of Benjamin Rolfe, Esq., who was both proprietors' and town clerk. May 19, 1735, Mr. John Chandler, town treasurer, was ordered to make the several col- lectors that are in arrears, forthwith to pay in what was due ; and Benjamin Rolfe, Esq., was appointed attorney in behalf of the town, " to sue for and recover in the law, any sum or sums of money which Mr. John Chandler, treasurer, is indebted to the town." In September, money was raised for building a bridge over Suncook river,-"one third part of the expense of building said bridge to be at the cost of the town." Deacon John Merrill and Mr. James Abbot, or either of them, were empowered to hire a man to keep school four months the next winter and spring ; and Capt. John Chandler, Benj. Rolfe, Esq., Dea. Merrill and Abner Hoit, appointed a committee " to take care that the bridge over Suncook be well done."
1736.
Fifty pounds were granted to Rev. Mr. Walker, to enable him to clear a pasture and bring it to English grass : thirty pounds
and described, be and hereby is constituted a separate and distinct township, by the name of Rumford ; the bounds of said township being as follows, viz. : Be- ginning where Contoocook river falls into Merrimack river, and thence to extend upon a course east seventeen degrees north three miles, and upon a course west seventeen degrees sonth four miles, which is the northerly bounds of said town- ship ; and from the other parts of that line, to be set off southerly at right angles until seven miles and one hundred rods shall be accomplished from the said northern bounds ; and the inhabitants thereof be and hereby are vested and endowed with equal powers, privileges and immunities that the inhabitants of any of the other towns within this province are or ought by law to be vested or endowed with.
Passed in Council, February 22d, 1733.
Sent down and read a first time. Bill passed, February 27, 1733.
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HISTORY OF RUMFORD.
of the said fifty pounds to be paid in 1736, and twenty pounds in the year 1737. Henry Rolfe, Esq., was authorized " to use proper means to get the County of Essex divided into counties." Edward Abbot was " empowered to repair and fit up the seats in the meeting-house, and make a door to the pulpit, and put up the windows." On the 18th of May the question of sending a Representative to the Great and General Court in Boston, was tried in town-meeting, and decided in the negative. The same question was decided in the negative the next year, and still again in 1738.
1739.
The school was ordered to be kept from the 20th of October to the 20th of April, 1740. Seventh of November, Voted, " That there shall be a good and sufficient garrison built around the Rev. Mr. Timothy Walker's dwelling-house, as soon as may be conveniently, at the town's cost." Benj. Rolfe, Esq., Dea. Merrill, Dea. Ephraim Farnum, Lieut. John Chandler and Ed- ward Abbot, to build the said garrison, at the town's cost, " as they shall think best." Five pounds were also granted to Mr. Barachias Farnum, to enable him to build a flanker to defend his mills, -" provided he give security to the town that in case he shall not keep a garrison at his dwelling-house, the town shall have liberty to take said flanker, and convert it to their use." Mr. Farnum's mill was on Turkey river, and his house also in that neighborhood.
Mr. JAMES SCALES,* afterward minister of Hopkinton, was allowed " liberty to build a pew in the one half of the hinder- most seat at the west end of the meeting-house, that is next the window."
* To the Church of Christ in Rumford, the First Church of Christ in Borford sends grecting :
Reverend and Beloved : - We dismiss from our to your holy communion, our beloved and worthy brother, Mr. James Scales, desiring you to receive him as becometh saints, and pray for us.
Your brethren in Christ, JOHN ROGERS, Pastor, with ye consent of the brethren. Boxford, July 3, 1737.
Rumford, July ye 17, 1737. This dismission and recommendation was read to the Church, and thereupon Mr. Scales was received to full communion here.
TIMOTHY WALKER, Pastor.
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HISTORY OF RUMFORD.
Joseph Eastman and Lieut. Jolm Chandler were appointed " to inform of all breaches of an act for the better preservation and increase of deer within the province, and to take care that the violators thereof be duly prosecuted and punished."
At this early period there appears to have been a FERRY across the Merrimack from Hale's Point in a " Great Boat," and a road was laid out from the landing-place along the bank of the river " to the old fort," through land of Mr. Nathaniel Abbot and William Barker.
1740.
June 11, Benjamin Rolfe, Esq., " was elected and deputed to serve for and represent the town in the Great and General Court " in Boston, and empowered, in behalf of the inhabitants, " to prefer a petition to His Majesty, that they may be quieted in their possessions, and remain under the jurisdiction of the Massa- chusetts Bay, or for any thing that may be proper or convenient."
In order to understand the ground and reasons for the dis- quiet implied in the foregoing, it is needful to refer, briefly, to the controversy at this time going on between Massachusetts and New-Hampshire respecting their boundary lines.
The point in controversy between the governments of the two provinces, so far as affected Rumford, was the southern bound- ary line of New-Hampshire, or which is the same, the northern boundary line of Massachusetts. The latter by virtue of her charter and grants claimed to " hold and possess" all the lands " on the southerly side of New-Hampshire, beginning at the sea, three English miles north from the Black Rocks, so called, at the mouth of the river Merrimack, as it emptied itself into the sea sixty years ago ; thence running parallel with the river, as far northward as the crotch, or parting of the river ; thence due north, as far as a certain trce, commonly known for more than seventy years past by the name of ENDICOTT's tree, standing three miles northward of said crotch or parting of Merrimack river, and thence due west to the south sea" - which they said they were " able to prove, by ancient and incontestable evidence, were the bounds rightfully belonging to them and within their jurisdiction."
The " crotch " above spoken of was the point of confluence of
10
146
HISTORY OF RUMFORD.
the Pemigewasset and Winnepissiogee rivers at Franklin, on the southeast side of the home-farm of George W. Nesmith, Esq. ; the " Endicott tree," standing three miles north,- which cannot be identified at this time,-must have been near to Sanbornton Bridge ; a line thence due west to the south sea or Pacific ocean, might have taken in some of the gold mines of California, as well as the rich interval lands of Penacook !
On the other hand, New-Hampshire claimed "that the south- ern boundary of her province should begin at the end of three miles north from the middle of the channel of Merrimack river, where it runs into the Atlantic ocean ; and from thence should run on a straight line west, up into the main land, (toward the south sea,) until it meets His Majesty's other governments ;" that is, until it should reach New-York.
At this time New-Hampshire and Massachusetts, as provinces of His Majesty, were so far united that they were under one Governor, -JONATHAN BELCHER, - who resided in Massachu- setts, and was supposed to be in her interest ; while DAVID DUNBAR, Esq., was Lieutenant Governor of New-Hampshire, who, with a majority of the Council and of the House of Repre- sentatives, was opposed to Governor Belcher and to the Massa- chusetts claim.
In order to settle the conflicting claims as to boundary, appeal was finally made to His Majesty, and a royal order obtained, constituting a board of commissioners, to be selected from the counsellors of the neighboring provinces - Nova Scotia, New-York, New-Jersey and Rhode-Island, with power to settle the contested lines. This commission first met at Hampton, Au- gust 1, 1737. BENJAMIN ROLFE, Esq., then and afterward of Rumford, was appointed one of the clerks. Arrangements had likewise been made for a meeting at about the same time, Au- gust 10, for the legislative assemblies of the two opposing prov- inces : that of Massachusetts at Salisbury, and of New-Hampshire at Hampton-Falls -five miles apart. This was done in order that the claims of each might with greater facilities be repre- sented before the commission, and that the Governor, who professed to be equally the father of both, might seem to dis- charge his duty in the premises with entire impartiality. This
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HISTORY OF RUMFORD.
great occasion was conducted with pomp and parade. Governor Belcher was escorted from Boston by a troop of horse, and met at Newbury by another troop, who, joined by three more at the supposed divisional line, conducted him to the " George tavern," at Hampton-Falls, where he made a speech to the assembly of New-Hampshire.
No doubt this procession, with the Governor riding in state, attended by members of the Great and General Court, was an imposing spectacle ; but such was the temper of the times, that it was made the subject of burlesque in true Hibernian style.
" Dear Paddy, you ne'er did behold such a sight, As yesterday morning was seen before night ; You, in all your born days saw, nor I did'nt neither, So many fine horses and men ride together.
At the head, the lower house trotted two in a row, Then all the higher house pranced after the low ; Then the Governor's eoach gallop'd on like the wind ; And the last that came foremost were troopers behind : But I fear it means no good, to your neck or mine, For they say, 'tis to fix a right place for the line !"*
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