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 37
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Fifty dollars were placed at the disposal of the Superintending School Committee, for the purchase of books, to be distributed as rewards in the several schools, at the discretion of the committee ; and ten dollars were appropriated for the benefit of the children at the Poor farm, to be instructed in school in District No. 3. Equal or larger appropriations for this latter purpose have gen- erally been made every year since.
1830-31.
Ten dollars were appropriated in 1830 " for the benefit of poor families in District No. 12, who live too far from school to send their children with convenience; and for the benefit of Ephraim Davis's children, in District No. 9, all to be expended for schooling." Those families lived on or beyond what is called the "Dark Plain," about two and a half miles east of Main street.
Measures were taken to paint, repair and furnish steps for the Town House, and to restrict the use of the building to town business, and to meetings for religious and charitable purposes, unless on rent. The toll of ministers of the several incorporated religious societies in town, passing over Federal bridge, was, by vote of the town, paid by the selectmen.
" Voted, That a bridewell be built at the expense of the town; and that Richard Bradley, James Moulton, Jr., and Cyrus Rob- inson, selectmen, be authorized to contract for the same." The
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TOWN ORDINANCES.
selectmen were also authorized to contract " to build a pound on the Poor Farm .* "
The plan before acted on, of dividing a portion of the school money-about $300-and also the whole of the literary fund, as annually received, equally among the school districts of the town, was adopted in 1831, and has been continued from year to year as a settled policy. It operates as an encouragement to educa- tion in the minor districts, and gives general satisfaction. Fif- teen dollars were appropriated for the schooling of children on the " Dark Plain."
Permission was given to the inhabitants of Concord " to build horse sheds in front of the burying-ground on the town land, un- der the direction of the selectmen." During 1831 a long line of sheds was built for members of the First Congregational Soci- ety, by contract with Mr. Moses Morse, at a cost of about twelve dollars each. These sheds stood close to the fence of the bury- ing ground, west of the old meeting-house, and there remained till the new meeting-house was built, in 1842, when a part of them were sold to Richard Bradley, Esq., and part moved to the location of the new house, and fitted up in the rear of it.
The following resolution, presented by Col. Dudley S. Palmer, was unanimously adopted :
Resolved, That the selectmen of this town be respectfully request- ed not to grant a license permitting any theatrical corps, circus, car-
* Among the items of expense in the auditors' report " for the year past," were : Paid for steps for Court House, $44,66
" " painting Town House, 200,05
" " building Bridewell, . 30,78
" Superintending School Committee, 75,00 " Z. W. Gleason, for building stone pound, 62,50
September 25th, the selectmen, by direction of the town, sold of " the property which be- longed to the estate of the late Timothy Abbot," three acres of land on Sand Hill, to Jacob B. Moore, for $288. For land of said estate previously sold, the town had received, from Philip Watson, $350,00
Mary Russell, 450,00
James Sanborn, 355,00
Joseph Low, . 92,00
Interest and rents, 148,30
$1.683,30
The town had also paid on demands against said estate, for the support of his widow, 1.045,85 Leaving a balance of $637,45
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HISTORY OF CONCORD.
avan, or any showmen, to exhibit or be exhibited within the limits of the town during the year for which said selectmen have this day been elected."
1832.
The Poor Farm was taxed like other property, for the benefit of school District No. 3, and a vote passed to " establish a house of correction, in connection with the poor house."
In June, this year, intelligence came that the Asiatic cholera, whose deadly march through Europe the year previous had been reported, had crossed the ocean and commenced its ravages in Canada. As Concord lay in the direct line of travel from Can- ada to Boston, great apprehensions were entertained that the fatal malady might visit us also. Hence, upon the petition of a re- spectable number of citizens, a special town meeting was called on the 9th of July, "to see if the town will choose a board of health, and make provision for the accommodation and support of strangers and foreigners who may become sick and need assist- ance." At this meeting a board of health was appointed, con- sisting of Richard Bradley, Joseph P. Stickney, and Laban Page, selectmen ; and doctors Thomas Chadbourne, Ezra Carter, Peter Renton, Elijah Colby, Samuel Morril, Thomas Brown, and J. T. Gilman Leach, who were authorized to make all necessary provision and accommodations for sick strangers, &c., and for the comfort and safety of our own citizens." Five hundred dol- lars were appropriated to meet expenses. Through the care and kindness of Divine Providence, no case of cholera ever occurred among us !*
1834.
At the annual town meeting the following important measure was adopted :
" Voted, That whereas, from the great increase of inhabitants in the compact part of the town, new streets or highways may be
* In the Auditors' Report of 1833 are the following items :
Paid for rations for Militia, $111,99 ; for bounty on crows and foxes, $10,95; for guide boards, $12. The expense of supporting paupers on the farm is $420,94. Average number of paupers in 1832 is 17. " The anditors cannot refrain from expressing their approbation of Mr. Joseph Parker, the overseer. They believe he merits the commendation of the citizens of Concord for his industry and fidelity in the discharge of the duties of his office."
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LAYING OUT OF STREETS.
required, - Therefore streets may be authorized by the select- men, and become highways, to be thereafter maintained by the town as such, in the usual manner ; - provided, that where streets are required for the especial benefit of the owner or owners of the land through which the said street may pass, the necessary land for the same be given for the purpose by the owners, and that the road and suitable water-courses be first made to the ac- ceptance of the selectmen, at the expense of those for whose benefit the street may be laid out.
" And whereas, for the more easily describing lots and resi- dences, the names of the several streets now made or hereafter to be made, should be known and recorded -Therefore, that suitable names may be given to such streets within the limits of the 9th, 10th and 11th school districts, a committee be appointed, (residents in said districts) who shall be authorized, with the con- currence of the owners of the land, where it has been given for the purpose, to report proper names to the selectmen ; and when approved by them that the same be entered on the records of the town, and that the street be thereafter known by that name."
In accordance with the foregoing vote, William A. Kent, Abiel Walker and Timothy Chandler, were appointed a committee to name streets, who subsequently made report, which was adopted, as follows :
NAMES OF STREETS.
1. The street known by the name of Main Street shall retain its name, and shall extend from the head of the Londonderry Turnpike road northerly to Horse Shoe Pond, by the dwelling-house of the late Judge Walker.
2. The street west of Main Street, known by the name of State Street, shall retain its name, and shall extend from Pleasant Street northerly by the Burying Ground to Wood's brook, on the Bosca- wen road.
3. The street west of State Street, known by the name of High Street, shall hereafter be called Green Street, and shall extend from Pleasant Street northerly to Centre Street.
4. The street west of Green Street, recently laid out through land of George Kent, shall be called Spring Street, and shall extend from Pleasant Street northerly to Centre Street.
5. The plat of ground appropriated by George Kent, Esq., for a public square, containing about five acres, lying between Merrimack and Rumford Streets, shall be called Rumford Square.
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HISTORY OF CONCORD.
6. The street west of Spring Street, and making the east line of Rumford Square, shall be called Rumford Street, and shall extend from Pleasant Street northerly to Centre Street.
7. The street west of Rumford Street, and making the west line of Rumford Square, shall be called Merrimack Street, and shall extend from Pleasant Street northerly to Centre Street.
8. The street running northerly from Centre Street through land partly of Mr. Odlin, shall be called Union Street, and shall extend from Centre Street northerly to Washington Street.
9. The street running southerly from Pleasant Street, by the dwelling-house of Samuel Fletcher, Esq., shall be called South Street, and shall extend from Pleasant Street southerly to Mr. Benjamin Wheeler's dwelling-house.
10. The street running south-easterly from Main Street, at the head of Londonderry Turnpike Road, to Concord Bridge, shall be called Water Street.
11. The street running southerly from Water Street, by the late Dea. Wilkins's dwelling-house, through the Eleven Lots, shall be called Hall Street, and shall extend from Water Street to the town line by Col. Carter's dwelling-house.
12. The street running westerly from Main Street, at the head of Londonderry Turnpike Road, shall be called West Street, and shall extend from Main Street westerly to South Street.
13. The street running westerly from Main Street through land of the late Mr. Richard Hazeltine, shall be called Cross Street, and shall extend from Main Street to South Street.
14. The street running westerly from Main Street, near Mr. Chas. Hoag's dwelling-house, through land of the late Mr. Thompson, shall be called Thompson Street, and shall extend from Main Street to South Street.
15. The street north of Thompson Street, through the same lot, shall be called Fayette Street, and shall extend from Main Street to South Street.
16. The street running westerly from Main Street by Mr. Asaph Evans's store, shall be called Pleasant Street, and shall extend from Main Street westerly to the junction of the roads by Mr. Stephen Lang's dwelling-house.
17. The street running westerly from Main Street, through the lot lately owned by Mr. Benjamin Gale, shall be called Warren Street, and shall extend from Main Street to State Street.
18. The street known by the name of School Street shall retain its name, and shall extend from Main Street westerly by the north side of Rumford Square to Merrimack Street.
19. The street running westerly from Main Street by the north side of the State House lot, shall be called Park Street, and shall extend from Main Street to State Street.
20. The street known by the name of Centre Street shall retain its name, and shall extend from Main Street westerly over Sand Hill until it intersects Washington Street.
397
DIRECTORY OF THE CENTRE VILLAGE.
21. The street running westerly from Main Street by Dr. Chad- bourne's dwelling-house, shall be called Montgomery Street, and shall extend from Main Street to State Street.
22. The street running westerly from Main Street by the north side of the Court House, through land of Mr. John Stickney, shall be called Court Street, and shall extend from Main Street to State Street.
23. The street running westerly from Main Street, by Dr. Carter's dwelling-house, shall be called Washington Street, and shall extend from Main Street, crossing State Street and over the hill, until it in- tersects Centre Street.
24. The street running westerly from Main Street, south of Mr. Nathaniel Abbot's dwelling-house, shall be called Pearl Street, and shall extend from Main Street to State Street.
25. The street running westerly from Main Street, by the dwell- ing-house of Charles Walker, Esq., shall be called Franklin Street, and shall extend from Main Street to the angle of the old road on the hill where the Hospital once was.
26. The street running westerly from Main Street, on the south side of the North Meeting-House lot to State Street, shall be known and called by the name of Church Street.
27. The street running westerly from Main Street at Horse Shoe Pond, shall be called Penacook Street, and shall extend from Main Street westerly by the dwelling-house of Richard Bradley, Esq., to the foot of the hill on the Little Pond road.
WILLIAM A. KENT, TIMOTIIY CHANDLER, ABIEL WALKER,
Committee.
Concord, June, 1834.
In June, 1834, a "Directory" was published, " containing the names of all heads of families, males of twenty-one years of age, and all others doing business in Concord centre village, with their occupations, places of business, and residence. The follow- ing summary, taken from this directory, is valuable for the infor- mation it contains, and for future reference.
NUMBER OF PUBLIC BUILDINGS, TRADING AND MANUFACTURING ESTABLISHMENTS, ETC.
State House, Court House, State Prison, 5 Meeting-Houses, 3 School Houses, 10 Hotels and Taverns, 2 Banks, 1 Savings Bank, 11 Printing Offices, 10 Newspapers, 26 English and West-India Goods Stores, 1 Hard Ware Store, 1 Crockery Ware Store, 3 Apoth- ecary Stores, 3 Hat Stores, 4 Clothes and Drapery Stores, 6 Book Stores, 5 Book Binderies, 1 Circulating Library, 9 Shoe Stores and Manufactories, 1 Musical Instrument and Umbrella Store, 2 Tanne- ries, 4 Saddle and Harness Makers, 1 Coach and Chaise Manufactory,
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HISTORY OF CONCORD.
1 Distillery, 3 Tin Ware Manufactories, 7 Blacksmiths, 3 Wheel- wrights, 4 Furniture Warehouses and Cabinet Shops, 2 Bake Houses, 9 Tailor and Tailoress Shops, 3 Slaughter Houses, 1 Last Manufactory, 1 Whip Manufactory, 1 Silver Plating Establishment, 1 Looking- Glass Manufactory, 1 Carver and Gilder, 4 Millinery Shops, 1 Mar- ket House, 3 Vietualling Cellars, 2 Chair Manufactories, 1 Comb Manufactory, 1 Boat Manufactory, 1 Confectionery Store, 3 Watch Makers and Jewellers, 1 Clock Manufactory, 1 Grave Stone Maker, 1 Chemieal Apparatus and Soda Manufactory, 8 Joiner Shops, 5 Paint Shops, 1 Cooper Shop, 2 Livery Stables, 2 Barber Shops.
The extent of communication and mode of public conveyance between Concord and other places, at this time, appears from the following
LIST OF STAGES.
Concord to Boston .- 1. Every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, through Pembroke, Candia, Chester, Hampstead, Atkinson, Haver- hill, Ms., Bradford, Andover, Reading, to Boston.
2. Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, through Hooksett, Derry, Methuen, Ms., Andover, Reading.
3. Every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, through Hooksett, Derry, Pelham, Lowell, Ms., Billerica, Woburn.
4. Six times a week, through Hooksett, Manchester, Londonderry, Pelham, Lowell, to meet the stages to Boston.
5. Every day, through Hooksett, Amoskeag, Bedford, Merrimack, Nashua, Tyngsborough, Lowell, Billerica, Woburn.
Concord to Amherst .- Every Tuesday and Saturday, through Dun- barton, Goffstown, New-Boston, to Amherst.
Concord to Peterborough .- Every Monday, Wednesday and Fri- day, through Hopkinton, Henniker, Hillsborough, Antrim, Hancock, to Peterborough.
Concord to Charlestown .- Every Tuesday, Thursday and Satur- day, through Hopkinton, Warner, Bradford, Fishersfield, Newport, Claremont, to Charlestown.
Concord to Hanover .- 1. Every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, through Hopkinton, Warner, Sutton, New-London, Springfield, En- field, Lebanon, to Hanover.
2. Daily, through Boscawen, Salisbury, Andover, Wilmot, Spring- field, Enfield, Lebanon, to Hanover.
Concord to Bradford, Vt .- Every Tuesday, Thursday and Satur- day, through Boscawen, Franklin, New-Chester, Bristol, Hebron, Rumney, Wentworth, Orford, to Bradford.
Concord to Haverhill .- Six times a week, through Canterbury, Northfield, Sanbornton, New-Hampton, Plymouth, Rumney, Went- worth, Warren, to Haverhill.
Concord to Conway .- Every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, through Canterbury, Upper Gilmanton, Gilford, Meredith, Cen-
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INTERESTING INCIDENTS.
tre-Harbor, Moultonborough, Sandwich, Tamworth, Eaton, to Con- way.
Concord to Wolfborough .- Every Tuesday and Saturday, through Loudon, Gilmanton, Alton, to Wolf borough.
Concord to Dover .- Every Tuesday and Saturday, through Chiches- ter, Pittsfield, Barnstead, Strafford, Barrington, Madbury, to Dover.
Concord to Portsmouth .- 1. Every Tuesday, Thursday and Satur- day, through Chichester, Epsom, Northwood, Nottingham, Durham, Dover, to Portsmouth.
2. Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, through Pembroke, Al- lenstown, Deerfield, Raymond, Epping, Exeter, to Portsmouth.
MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS AND ANECDOTES RELATIVE TO THIS PERIOD.
July 4, 1825, was celebrated by a religious service appro- priate to the occasion. Rev. Mr. Bouton delivered an address, and at the close a collection was taken up in aid of the American Colonization Society, amounting to $44,58.
Drowned in Horse-shoe pond, at the north end of the village, on Saturday, the 9th instant, John Bradley, aged five years and seven months, eldest child of Richard Bradley, Esq.
Drowned in Merrimack river, on the 16th instant, Mr. Leonard Fales, aged forty. He fell from a small boat while intoxicated.
June 22d Concord was honored by the presence of the im- mortal LAFAYETTE. Great preparations were made for his reception. Met on the town-line, between Concord and Pem- broke, he was addressed by Hon. William A. Kent, chairman of the committee of arrangements, as follows :
GENERAL LAFAYETTE : In behalf of the citizens of Concord, we offer you a cordial welcome to our village and to our hospitalities. In the various climates of our country through which you have recently passed, you have experienced a uniform temperature in the public feeling toward you. It has been warm -it has been grateful; and in this northern region, sir, where we are no strangers to cold and to frost, you will find no chill in our affections.
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HISTORY OF CONCORD.
In expressing our admiration of your character, and our gratitude for your noble and disinterested services to our country, we but respond to the distinct voice of that country; and we again echo that voice when we say, as we now do from the heart, may God Almighty bless you.
To this address Gen. LaFayette responded. Arrived at the gate of the State House yard, an immense number of people, gathered from the town and from every part of the State, wel- comed him with enthusiastic and prolonged cheering. In the hall of the House of Representatives he was welcomed and ad- dressed by His Excellency the Governor, David L. Morril, and introduced to each of the members. Next, the General was introduced to the Revolutionary soldiers to the number of two hundred and ten, who had come to pay him their respects. He was addressed in their behalf by Gen. Benjamin Pierce.
At three o'clock in the afternoon he was conducted by the Governor, amid the cheerings of the assembled multitude, to the dinner-table, in front of the capitol, where, with about six hun- dred others -including more than two hundred Revolutionary officers and soldiers -he partook of a sumptuous entertainment, provided by Mr. John P. Gass, of the Columbian Hotel.
After dinner toasts were drank, accompanied with the dis- charge of cannon, and interspersed with songs. One song was written by Col. Philip Carrigain to the tune-
" Scots who ha' wi' Wallace bled."
The first stanza of which was -
" North, and South, and East, and West, Grateful homage have expressed - Greeting loud the nation's guest : Son of Liberty ; - Whom tyrants cursed - whom Heav'n approved - And millions long have mourned and loved - He comes, by fond entreaties moved, The GRANITE STATE to see."*
During his sojourn in town the General was the guest of Hon. William A. Kent, at whose house a great number of ladies and gentlemen had the pleasure of a private introduction to him.
* Concord Register, June 25, 1825.
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INTERESTING INCIDENTS.
He left at seven o'clock, on Thursday morning, for Dover and other places eastward. He again returned to Concord on the 27th of June, and took his final leave, for Windsor, Vermont, by way of Hopkinton, Warner, Newport and Claremont. On passing the house of the late Daniel Clark, of Concord, Miss Mary Clark stepped out of the door and presented to Gen. LaFayette a beautiful bouquet of flowers, for which he politely thanked her.
The mercury stood at ninety, or above ninety degrees, on thirteen days during the month of July.
[1825.] DECEMBER 17. We have fourteen regular stages running to and from this place three times a week - six of them to Boston ; and, also, several one and two horse carriages carry- ing the mails across the country once a week.
DEDICATION OF THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH.
The Baptist meeting-house was dedicated on Wednesday, De- cember 28th. The order of exercises was -
1. Anthem.
2. Prayer, by Rev. Mr. Robinson, of Salisbury.
3. Select portions of Scripture, by Rev. Mr. Barnabee, of Deerfield.
4. Singing, Psalm 132, L. M.
5. Dedicatory prayer, by Rev. Mr. Williams, late of Windsor, Vermont, now of this town.
6. Singing, 132, C. M.
7. Sermon, by Rev. Mr. Ellis, of Exeter, from Haggai ii: 9.
8. Prayer, by Rev. Mr. Carlton, of Hopkinton.
9. Singing, Hymn 136.
10. Anthem.
The house, costing between six and seven thousand dollars, is a handsome edifice, and creditable to the skill of the architect, Mr. John Leach .*
[1826.] JANUARY 28. A bell, weighing about thirteen hun- dred pounds, from the foundry of Col. Revere, of Boston, for the new brick Baptist church, to which is to be attached a clock, was purchased by the donations of a number of citizens of this vicinity, and raised to the belfry the latter part of January.
* This edifice has since been considerably enlarged and beautified. See engraving of it as it now is, in history of the Baptist church.
26
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HISTORY OF CONCORD.
FEBRUARY 4. On Wednesday morning the thermometer was twenty-six degrees below zero, which is the lowest that has been noticed for the last eight years.
FEBRUARY 18. The joiners' shop, owned by Capt. John Putney, at the East Village, was destroyed by fire. Loss esti- mated at three hundred dollars.
An unusual influenza at this season pervaded this town, and extended over the whole of New-England.
[1827.] On Thursday morning, May 3d, the hills in Canter- bury, and the tops of Kearsarge and Cardigan, in sight of Concord village, were covered with snow, which had fallen two days before.
Died in this town, April 27th, at the residence of Capt. Joseph Walker, Mr. David Sawyer, of Salisbury, aged twenty-one. His body was removed to Salisbury. The cause of his sickness was the lodgment of a stick from an apple tree, exceeding one half of an inch in length and one eighth in diameter, entirely within the eye. It entered the pupil and was invisible to any observer for some length of time. The stick was extracted from the eye ; but lock-jaw ensued, which was the immediate cause of his death.
The following is a fair specimen of advertisements for the sale of spirituous liquors, in this town, for many years before the temperance reform commenced :
GENUINE LIQUORS AND GROCERIES. WILLIAM GAULT,
(Opposite the State House, Concord, N. H.,)
Has just received the following supplies, viz. :
10 casks WINES ; 5 hhds. St. Croix RUM; 4 pipes old Cognac BRANDY ; 4 do. pure Holland GIN ; 2 casks old WHISKY ; 1 do. Jamaica SPIRIT.
W. G. endeavors at all times to keep a supply of OLD LIQUORS, as good as can be found in the capital of New-England.
May 10. tf
A reading room was opened in Concord, under favorable auspices, on Thursday, May 24th, having, as contributors for its support, about seventy subscribers. The room was the centre
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INTERESTING INCIDENTS.
room, second story, of the large brick building - now Sanborn's block - near the State House, and was fitted up with much neatness and taste.
The watch and jewel shop of Mr. Timothy Chandler, of this town, was forcibly broken open and entered on Friday night, June 1st, and articles to the amount of from fifty to one hundred dollars taken therefrom.
On Friday morning, June 22d, in attempting to swim across Merrimack river, below Garvin's Falls, Mr. John Thompson, Jr., was drowned, aged thirty - son of Capt. John Thompson, of Concord.
A little son, four years old, of Mr. Atkinson Webster, was killed, July 7th, by the kick of a horse.
A hog, slaughtered by Mr. John Elliot, of this town, eighteen months and one week old, weighed, when dressed, five hundred and eighteen pounds.
THEATRE. " At the hall of the Eagle Coffee House, in Con- cord, on Monday evening, July 28th, will be presented Shak- speare's celebrated tragedy of Othello," &c. "Doors open at seven and a half o'clock."
This was the first experiment of theatrical performances ever tried in this town. The performances were continued every evening through the week, except Saturday - receiving, how- ever, but little patronage. They then closed.
Died in this town, on the 5th of August, of paralysis, Mr. William Stickney, aged sixty-nine. He was attacked in the morning, while about his ordinary business ; was insensible through the day, and expired the same evening.
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