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 35
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Great difficulty was experienced in obtaining a road from West Parish village to Horse Hill bridge, on account of conflict- ing opinions as to the best route ; hence, at a meeting of the town December 21st, it was voted, " That a committee of three from some adjoining town or towns be requested by the selectmen to assist them in laying out a road from Horse Hill bridge to Orlando Brown's in such way as shall best accommodate the public." Andrew Bowers, Capt. Stone and Dea. Pettengill [of Salisbury] were chosen for the purpose.
1819.
On the 10th of March, voted, "That in future it shall be the duty of the selectmen and auditors of accounts to report at each annual meeting such sum or sums of money as will, in their opinion, be necessary to defray the expenses of the town the ensuing year; and that they specify each object of expense, together with the sum they judge necessary to meet it." This rule
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has been found highly useful, and been generally acted on since its first adoption.
Thomas W. Thompson, Samuel Sparhawk, Stephen Ambrose, Isaac Hill, Samuel A. Kimball, Timothy Carter and Nathan Bal- lard, jr., were appointed a committee to report at the next town meeting " the most eligible mode they can devise for supporting the poor in future."
LANCASTERIAN SCHOOL.
Voted, " to admit the south end of the Town House, called the Senate Chamber, to be prepared and occupied by a Lancasterian school, provided the town be at no expense." This kind of school derived its name from a philanthropic gentleman in England, by the name of Lancaster; the school was designed for a large number of scholars of every age, to be conducted on the plan of monitorial instruction : that is, at the head of each class was a monitor, who was the teacher of the class, under the supervision and direction of the Principal. Cards were generally used in- stead of school-books, and the exercises consisted much in repeat- ing lessons, after the monitor. The schools had a short-lived popularity in different parts of the country.
COWS AND SHEEP.
Voted, " That whereas the inhabitants of Concord and trav- elers with teams and loaded sleighs are frequently annoyed by cows and sheep running at large ; - therefore, that hereafter no cow or sheep shall be permitted to run at large in the Main street between Carr's inn and Richard Bradley's dwelling-house, or within half a mile to the west of Main street, after the first day of November, 1819, till the first day of April, 1820."
Isaac Eastman and James Hoit were appointed by the town, to take legal measures to ascertain the names of those persons who have injured or damnified the seats, candlesticks, &c., belonging to the Town House, and report their names; and that they, the said Eastman and Hoit, prosecute the same.
September 2d, Richard Bradley was appointed " an agent to settle or defend the suit commenced against the town of Concord by Ephraim Farnum, jr." This suit was to recover from the
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town the value of a horse belonging to Mr. Farnum, hired to Col. William Kent to go to Boston, and which horse, with a chaise, run off a bridge just north of the house of the late Dea. Wilkins, in the time of a high freshet, and was drowned. Mr. Farnum failed to recover.
1820.
At the annual meeting this year the town voted to pay five dollars " as a premium to the engine which may arrive at a fire first, and that the same be awarded by direction of the fire- wards." On the sixth of April the selectmen were directed to lease to the 11th school district, for such a length of time and on such terms as they may think proper, so much of the Parsonage lot near the house of David George as will be needed by said district for the purpose of building a school-house - provided the Rev. Dr. McFarland, or those who may claim a right to said lot under him, shall give his or their consent." The selectmen were also authorized to purchase or build a house or houses suffi- cient for the safe-keeping of the hearse or hearses which belong to the town. On the 4th of January, 1821, the selectmen were authorized to agree with the selectmen of Boscawen to repair or rebuild the bridge across Contoocook river, near John Chandler's, in the same place it now is, and that the town of Concord pay half the expense.
1821.
At the annual meeting in March, 1821, upon recommendation of a committee previously appointed, consisting of Samuel Spar- hawk, Charles Walker and William A. Kent, the town voted to provide a book " for the purpose of entering therein all returns of roads,"* and whatever else relative to that particular subject : also a book in which an account should be opened with every pauper maintained wholly or in part by the town ; and an invoice and tax-book, so ruled and arranged that " any one who wishes may see at one view both the amount of his taxes and the prop-
* See Doc. for Chap. XIII., No. 1, " Return of Roads."
24
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erty on which his taxes are assessed." It is to be regretted that the second recommendation above was never carried out.
1822-3.
A NEW COUNTY.
The question of forming a new county - to be called Merri- mack County - was acted on by the town at the annual meet- ing in March. Yeas, 522- nays, 6. The selectmen were directed to petition the General Court " so to alter and establish the line between Concord and Boscawen, that said line may strike the centre of Contoocook river at the place fixed upon to build a new bridge across said river."
The committee for visiting schools recommended in their annu- al report, " that a sum not less than three per cent. of the mon- ies raised for the support of schools, be appropriated by the town and placed at the disposal of the committee - to be expended in premiums, in part, to school-masters" who shall have distin- guished themselves for their ability and success in instruction and government ; - " and the residue in useful books, to be given as rewards of merit to those scholars who shall have made the greatest improvement in their studies." The recommendation was adopted.
A new county being constituted, Concord became the shire town, and hence, for the accommodation of the courts, it became necessary to make alterations and improvements in the old town house. September 16th it was voted, " That the town so far comply with the act of the Legislature of June session, 1822, as to remove the town house back, turn it end to the road, raise it one story, and complete it to the acceptance of the Justices of the Superior Court, - provided Mr. Stickney will give the land which may be necessary for this purpose ; and provided, also, that one third of the expense of removal and repairing said house be defrayed by individual subscription." Jeremiah Pecker, Robert Davis, 3d, and Joseph Low, were appointed superintend- ents, and eight hundred dollars appropriated towards defraying the expense of removing and repairing the building, agreeably to the foregoing vote.
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The school committee reported that about one thousand chil- dren and youth, or one third of the whole population of the town, attended school during the winter; and that one half of them studied English Grammar, Arithmetic and Geography. Add the little children who attend only in summer, and nearly one half of the population are actually receiving their education " at these domestic institutions."
Jacob B. Moore made proposals to the town to publish " a history of the town," which he had prepared, to contain, with an appendix, about one hundred and fifty pages; whereupon the town voted, " to take a sufficient number of copies of said history to furnish each family in the town with one copy." The work was published in 1824, entitled " Annals of the Town of Concord." - pp. 112.
1824.
This year the selectmen were authorized to straighten " Centre street," and " to lease or otherwise dispose of the land given to the town by Deacon Joseph Hall, deceased." It was voted to give the proprietors of Federal Bridge twenty-five dollars per annum as a compensation for the privilege, to the inhabitants of the town, of passing toll free on Sabbath days, when going to and from public worship. At a meeting November 1st the select- men were authorized to purchase that part of the New-Hampshire Turnpike (including the Branch) which lies in Concord ; to pay a sum not exceeding five hundred dollars for the same .*
MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS AND ANECDOTES RELATIVE TO THIS PERIOD.
The first boat, with regular freight, from Boston to Concord, through the Middlesex canal, arrived at Concord June 23, 1815.1
* The New-Hampshire Turnpike was the road from Federal Bridge through to Chichester, Epsom, Northwood, on to Portsmouth - and the " Branch " run from Concord bridge north- east till it met the Turnpike near the late Philip Stevens's.
¡ See " Boating Company," in Miscellaneous Chapter.
-
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HISTORY OF CONCORD.
The summer of 1816 was remarkable in Concord and through- out New-England for the severity of the cold. It is said that there were frosts every month in the season, from April to No- vember. Corn, rye and other crops were almost entirely dc- stroyed. Apples and other fruits were likewise cut off. In con- sequence, the price of provisions was unusually high, and the poor suffered from scarcity.
The lot where the brick school-house now stands, in district number eleven, was the Parsonage house lot, which Dr. McFar- land had liberty to improve during his ministry. Some years after his settlement he leased it to Benjamin Kimball, jr., hatter, at the north end of Main street. Mr. Kimball moved his shop on the lot - agreeing to pay Dr. McFarland one bushel and a half of white beans annually. In the cold summer of 1816 white beans were a scarce article, and the quantity due could not be had. Mr. Kimball gathered from various sources two bushels or more of beans, " ring-streaked and speckled," and of all col- ors, and carried them to Dr. McF. for payment. The Doctor observed, "You have brought me more than a bushel and a half." " Not of white ones," said Mr. Kimball, "and the rest I'll throw in."
[1817.] Mr. Benjamin Thompson was drowned in Turkey Pond, June 20th, by the upsetting of a boat, in a squall of wind. He was in company with Lieut. B. Kimball. The former attempted to swim to the shore, and was drowned; the latter, who could not swim, clung to the boat, and was saved.
On the 18th of July President MONROE, on his tour through New-England, visited Concord. He was met on the borders of the town (on his way from Dover,) about three o'clock, P. M., by a committee of the citizens, consisting of the selectmen and Thomas W. Thompson, Samuel Sparhawk, William A. Kent, Charles Walker, Jonathan Eastman, Stephen Ambrose and Abiel Walker, Esqs., and under escort of Capt. Abbot's company of cavalry and citizens of Concord, procceded by the Branch turn- pike to Concord bridge. His approach was announced by Capt. Samuel Herbert's company of artillery, which saluted him from Butters's Hill, as he passed the bridge and through the Main
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street. Arrived near Barker's tavern, he was received by Capt. Long's excellent company of light infantry, and saluted by that and a company of citizens consisting of several hundreds. After a few moments' rest, he ascended a stage erected for the occa- sion, three sides of which were covered by the three escort com- panies, with presented arms -- where he was met by the cheers and huzzas of the surrounding multitude.
Here the Hon. Thomas W. Thompson made an address to the President, welcoming him, in the name of his fellow citizens, to the town. To which the President responded.
A sumptuous dinner was partaken of at Mr. Barker's, after which the President gave as a toast -" The town of Concord - May its inhabitants continue to flourish and prosper." In the evening he attended a musical concert at the meeting-house, which was tastefully decorated for the occasion. On Saturday he received calls from individuals, among whom was the vener- able Judge WALKER, eighty years of age. After dining with Mr. Thompson he took an excursion down the river as far as Garvin's Falls in the newly launched pleasure boat ; the Presi- dent, with a select company of ladies and gentlemen - returning by land in carriages. He passed the evening with an invited party at Col. William A. Kent's; attended public worship in the morning of the Sabbath at the Old North Church, and left town on Monday morning, highly gratified with his visit to the Capital of the Granite State.
Died in this town, at the residence of her grandson, Richard Bradley, August 10, 1817, the widow MARY CALFE, aged ninc- ty-eight, being the oldest person in town. She first married Samuel Bradley, who was killed by the Indians August 11, 1746, and was the mother of the late Hon. John Bradley. She after- wards married Richard Calfe, Esq., of Chester. About six years before her death she was disabled by a fall, and was con- fined ever after to her bed. She retained her faculties in a re- markable degree to the last. In her youthful days she had stud- ied the Scriptures, and when strength and sight failed her, not only its doctrines but its very language were familiar to her - which she would repeat, to the comfort and satisfaction of her friends. She placed a firm reliance on the merits of her Saviour,
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and died in sweet peace and hope of rest in the kingdom of God.
Miss Abigail Kimball, aged sixty, who had been an attendant and nurse of Mrs. Calfe for about thirty years, died on the 4th of August - and Mrs. Hannah Bradley, widow of the Hon. John Bradley, aged sixty-six, died in the same house on the 15th of August. Their united ages made two hundred and fourteen years. Mrs. Bradley was a woman of uncommon excellence and usefulness in all the relations of life. The disease of which she died was dysentery.
Drowned in this town, Sabbath morning, August 17, 1817, Ebenezer Chickering, in the nineteenth year of his age- a youth of much promise. In his anxiety to become a swimmer, and unbeknown to the family where he lived, early on Sunday morning, with two other youths, he went to the river, and ven- turing in deep water, where he was unable to manage himself, he was carried down the stream.
The body of young Chickering was found several days after, floating on the surface of the river, about two miles below the place where he was drowned.
A smart shock of an earthquake was felt in this town on Sun- day, October 5, 1817, about twenty minutes before twelve o'clock. It was of one or two minutes duration, apparently in a direction from south-west to north-east.
On Tuesday, November 25th, a large three story dwelling- house, chiefly owned by Mr. Abel Hutchins, and occupied by him and Mr. Albe Cady, was consumed by fire. The fire burst out of the roof about one o'clock, P. M. - probably communi- cated from a stove in the third story. A considerable portion of the furniture was saved. Loss estimated at about three thousand dollars. The house stood on the spot where the Phoenix Hotel now stands. The fire was prevented from extending to adjacent buildings, by the energetic efforts not only of men but of the fair sex, who were busy in furnishing carpets, coverlets and blankets to cover the exposed buildings, assisting also to bring water, forming lines for the engine, and in clearing adjacent buildings. Burning flakes fell among combustibles under a large barn full of hay, but were accidentally discovered and extinguished by
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Gen. Isaac Eastman and Capt. Philip Watson, who were carry- ing a tub of water, by a circuitous route, for the engine. To this circumstance the preservation of the adjacent buildings is mainly ascribed.
MAD DOG.
A large dog, from every appearance mad, was killed in this town on Friday, November 28th. The day before from twenty to thirty dogs were bitten by him on Concord street.
[1818.] " Portsmouth and Concord Wagon Company " was formed at the beginning of the year 1818, " for the transporta- tion of merchandize " between the two places. Wagons to leave Portsmouth every Monday for Concord, and pass over the Turn- pike through the towns of Durham and Northwood; returning, leave Concord every Thursday, and arrive in Portsmouth on Saturday.
From the 2d to the 10th of April continued rain and snow fell, without the appearance of the sun. Stages from the north and south arrived on runners, on the 6th and 10th of April.
FIRE ENGINE.
An additional fire engine was purchased by the inhabitants of this town in April, 1818. It was a new invention, by Mr. S. F. B. MORSE, the celebrated painter (and inventor of the electric telegraph) and was procured for about half the usual expense of other engines - say one hundred and fifty to two hundred dol- lars .*
On Tuesday, May 5th, was an unusual freshet. The intervale was covered with water, and the river extended from its usual channel to from one to two miles. Bridges in town were impass- able for a number of days. No spring freshet is recollected to have been so high. The bridge between Boscawen and Canter- bury was carried away.
The raising of the EAGLE which crowns the spire of the State House took place on Saturday, July 18, 1818, with appropriate ceremonies. At two o'clock, P. M., a procession was formed
* Patriot, April 14, 1818.
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HISTORY OF CONCORD.
in front of the State House, under the direction of Major Rob- ertson ; proceeded down State street and back, entered the State House, where a handsome extemporaneous address was delivered by PHILIP CARRIGAIN, Esq. Refreshments were plentifully dis- tributed ; toasts were drank amid loud cheers and the firing of artillery, the Concord Band, at intervals, playing appropriate airs. The thirteenth toast was - " THE AMERICAN EAGLE, - May the shadow of his wings protect every aere of our united Continent, and the lightning of his eye flash terror and defeat through the ranks of our enemies."
A Sunday School was established in the West Parish village in Concord, on the first Sunday in June -- consisting of about fifty scholars. During the months of June and July they com- mitted thirteen thousand six hundred and forty-six verses of Scripture and answers in the Catechism. In the month of August forty-five scholars attended, and committed twelve thou- sand six hundred and six verses and answers.
On Thursday, November 12th, a newly discharged convict from the State Prison, by the name of Royal Allen - a mulatto -- entered the new State House and stole the keys of most of the doors, (fifteen in number.) He was soon arrested, and be- sides the keys he was found to have stolen twenty-six dollars in money the same day.
The Phoenix Hotel was opened as "a house of entertain- ment," by Mr. Abel Hutchins, the first of January, 1819.
Mr. David Carter, of Concord, aged about fifty-five, dropped dead while driving his team .*
Mr. Henry Moulton, aged eighty-five, fell dead from his arm- chair.+
The citizens of Concord have for two weeks past been much gratified with the appearance for the first time of a steamboat in our river. A good portion of the ladies and gentlemen in town availed themselves of the very polite invitation of the proprietors to take pleasure rides up and down the river, for two or three miles .¿
This boat was owned by John L. Sullivan, Esq., superintend- ent of the Concord Boating Company, and was intended to tow loaded boats up and down the Merrimack river.
* Patriot, January 12, 1819. + Ib., May 25, 1819. # Ib., June 22, 1819.
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Tuesdays, November 2d and 9th, 1819, were remarkably dark days. Candles were found necessary near the middle of each day. On the 9th, domestic fowls retired as if it was sundown, soon after two, P. M. It seemed almost as dark as at the time of the great eclipse in 1806.
[1820.] JANUARY 4 .* On Wednesday evening last a splen- did ball was given in this town, in honor of the gallant Col. Me- Neil, of the United States army. The party was very numer- ous and respectable. On entering the hall Col. McNeil was announced and introduced by the managers, and was received by the ladies as well as gentlemen by a manifestation of the glow of beauty and the fervor and animation of patriotism. Among the strangers who attended were Gen. Benjamin Pierce and lady, and their daughter, Mrs. McNeil.
Christmas was celebrated in this town by the Episcopal soci- ety. The Town Hall (their place of meeting,) was fancifully decorated with evergreen. An excellent discourse was given by the Rev. Addison Searle, who at present officiates alternately in this town, in Hopkinton and Bradford.
On Thursday morning, the last day but one of the year 1819, previous to a serious storm of wind and snow, the thermometer stood in this town at eight degrees below zero, and during the storm it did not exceed ten degrees above.
APRIL 25. Notwithstanding the high grounds in this vicinity are covered, and the snow remains two or three feet deep in our forests, the thermometer stood in the shade, on Tuesday and Thursday last, at eighty-four, in this town.
MAY 16. Nearly seventy tons of goods were sent to the landing, in Boston, of the Union Boating Company, the first week of business on the river.
MAY 30. Last Friday the fields in our vicinity exhibited the novel spectacle at this season of a mantle of snow, extending as far as the eye could reach. The storm was from the north- east, and cold.
* Most of the articles which follow with the prefixed dates, were taken from the news- papers of the day.
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HISTORY OF CONCORD.
Died in this town, June 13th, a child of Mr. Runnells, aged two years, in consequence of eating dirt the day before.
From the 1st of July, 1819, and the 7th of June, 1820, six thousand eight hundred and seventy-two persons visited the State House, and were shown its apartments.
The General Assembly of the Grand Lodge of New-Hampshire convened on Wednesday, the 14th of June. Officers for the en- suing year were appointed, and on the second day of the session a grand procession was formed, and religious services performed in the meeting-house. Sermon by Rev. Thomas Beede, G. Scc., from Numbers xv. : 38, 39.
JULY 4. The fare from this place to Boston, by stage, a dis- tance of sixty miles, is reduced to one dollar. This was the effect of competition between two lines of stages.
AUGUST 15. A meteor was seen on the evening of Friday, August 4th, in this town, at about twenty minutes before eleven o'clock. A bright flash was observed, followed by a luminous meteor, rising from the western horizon thirty degrees or more towards the zenith, lasting about two minutes.
The celebrated traveling preacher, Lorenzo Dow, preached in town on Sunday and Monday, the last of July.
AUGUST 22. That part of vegetation which the drought and grasshoppers had left, was revivified by a gentle rain on Thursday last ; not indeed until the crops of corn and potatoes on the higher grounds had been almost entirely cut off.
SEPTEMBER 5. Died in this town Mr. Abel Merrill, in his seventy-third year. He went to bed apparently well, and before midnight was a corpse.
SEPTEMBER 12. The Merrimack river was never known to be lower than at present. The boats can ascend no farther than Hooksett.
CARD OF THANKS.
The Youth's Christian Knowledge Society in Bradford, New- Hampshire, acknowledge the reception of seventy volumes of books, from Concord and other places, all by the hand of the
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Rev. Ezekiel Rich, to constitute for them a library, for which they render most cordial thanks to the benevolent donors.
By order of the Society,
Bradford, September 1, 1820. SARAH BLISS, Librarian.
OCTOBER 24. On Tuesday last the water of the Merrimack covered the intervale to a higher extent than has been known for twenty years. The river had been unusually low, but rain com- menced on the evening of the fourteenth, and continued to the evening of the sixteenth. The water rose perhaps fifteen feet in twenty-four hours.
NOVEMBER 21. Intense cold succeeded the late snow storm, and several boats, fully laden, were frozen up in the river.
[1821.] JANUARY 15. The Episcopalians of this town have finished a building, centrally located, as a chapel. It is fifty-five feet by thirty, affording a commodious place of worship. This building was located on the spot where the American House stands.
APRIL 16. The Concord Female Academy and Boarding School commenced April first, with fifty scholars.
JUNE 11. A panorama of victories on Lake Champlain and at Plattsburgh, comprising three distinct views, was exhibited at the Town Hall the second week in June.
JULY 9. The forty-fifth anniversary of our National Indepen- dence was celebrated by companies on each side of the Merri- mack, in a most agreeable and appropriate manner.
[1822.] JANUARY 14. Thermometer on Friday morning last, at sunrise, stood twenty-four degrees below zero.
FEBRUARY 18. Died, Eveline, daughter of Mr. Caleb Camp- bell, aged three years - scalded by falling into a tub of hot water.
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