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 41
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Of the many excellent women that have adorned society in Concord, at different periods, and whose memory is precious, it may be said in respect of her without envy, " Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all."
On the white monument erected by her children to her mem- ory in the ancient burying ground, are inscribed the fit words of the Saviour - " She hath done what she could."*
Mr. Henry Farley died in this town, November 23d, in con- sequence of a fall of a few feet from a ladder in the wood-shed of his house, striking the back part of his head upon a box, which fractured his skull. He was taken up insensible and died in a few minutes.
In the latter part of December teams crossed the Merrimack river on the ice at the place where the Free Bridge now is - a road being opened across the middle interval for their accom- modation.
[1839.] An interesting daughter of Capt. Ebenezer Ridge- way, U. S. N., of this town, five years of age, was so badly burnt on January 1st, by her clothes taking fire, as to cause her death the next day. The child was playing with her brother, two years older, and approaching too near the fire her clothes caught, and before assistance could be rendered were nearly
* For further and full particulars of the life and character of Mrs. McFarland, the reader is referred to a Memoir of her, written by Rev. Mr. Bouton, and published in 1839. See also " McFariand family," in Geneological Chapter of this History.
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consumed. No other person was in the room with the children at the time of the occurrence.
Died in Concord, February 15th, Mrs. Mary Ann P., wife of Rev. Nathaniel Bouton, aged 34. Mrs. B. was the eldest daughter of the late Hon. John Bell, of Chester. The funeral services at the North Meeting-house, on Monday, 18th, were attended by a large assembly of citizens and christian friends, who testified their deep sympathy on the mournful occasion. An appropriate sermon was preached by Rev. John M. Putnam, of Dunbarton, from Coll. i: 27, " Christ in you, the hope of glory." During her residence of about ten years in Concord, Mrs. B. had endeared herself greatly to the people of the parish, and indeed to all who knew her, by her gentle and affectionate dispo- sition and manners. She was especially distinguished by her native modesty and guileless simplicity of character. She pos- sessed in an uncommon degree the " charity which thinketh no evil." "On her tongue was the law of kindness," and never was it heard to speak evil of any one. She bore her lingering sickness with christian patience and submission, deriving great comfort from the promises of the Bible ; trusting in the mercy of God through Jesus Christ .* A short time before her death the account of the martyr Stephen was read to her, Acts vii : 56- 60. She said, " I desire that the last prayer which shall be offered for me may be the same as his - 'Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.'"
On Sunday, May 19th, a very extensive conflagration took place on the pine plain, directly east of the main village, which, as was estimated, run over more than a thousand acres, destroy- ing the growth and consuming a large quantity of wood that was cut and in piles. It was believed to be the work of incen- diaries.
The large dwelling-house owned and occupied by Mr. Leavitt C. Virgin and Capt. Samuel Blake, of this town, was consumed by fire carly on the morning of Tuesday, May 14th. This is
* See Christian Panoply, February 22, 1839.
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the first dwelling-house that has been entirely consumed in this extended village for the last twenty years.
ST. PAUL'S CHURCH - LAYING OF THE CORNER STONE.
The corner-stone of St. Paul's Church, in Concord, was laid with appropriate ceremo- nies, on Thursday, the 13th of June. Ser- vice by Rev. Mr. Ten Broeck, assisted by Rev. Mr. Chase, of St. Matthew's Church, Hopkinton. An inter- esting address on the condition and prospects of the Society was de- livered by the Rector, Mr. Ten Broeck. A deposite of various articles was made beneath the corner-stone.
On Friday, July 5th, the dwelling-house of Mr. Jahn Dear- born, of Concord, was struck by lightning. The fluid burst the top of the chimney, sending the bricks in every direction ; passed down, bursting the chimney again between the chamber and lower part of the house, throwing off the breast-work, and pre- cipitating the tongs through the cellar door. There were eight persons sitting in the room, yet no one was in the least injured.
The house, barn and shop, belonging to Mr. Jacob Clough, on the hill three miles from this village, on the Canterbury road, were entirely consumed by fire on Saturday, November 9th, about eleven o'clock, A. M. Loss about one thousand dollars. No insurance. It seems the boys had built a fire in the shop where they were husking corn, from which it was communicated to the husks. The buildings were in distinct view of this village, and the engines promptly repaired to the scene of conflagration,
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but too late to render assistance. The house was formerly owned by Mr. Simeon Virgin.
[1840.] The stagemen's ball, held at the Eagle coffee-house on Friday evening, January 10th, was attended by one hundred and fifty couples, and everything was done up in the neat and ele- gant style peculiar to the gentlemen of the whip on such occasions.
Col. Stevens, Secretary of State, delivered a lecture upon the subject of common schools, at the North meeting-house, on Fast day, April 9th, before a numerous audience. The subject was ably and eloquently treated.
Died in this town, April 1st, Philbrick Bradley, Esq., aged 84. He was in the battle of Bennington, in Col. Stickney's regiment, and also at the capture of Burgoyne. Mr. Bradley was very social and facetious in conversation, and delighted to entertain the young with stories of olden time. He lived on the Mountain, so called, in East Concord, about three miles and a half from the main village, and was a pensioner of government.
On Saturday morning, September 3d, a small building in the rear of Stickney's block was consumed by fire. The air was still, otherwise there must have been an extensive conflagration, as the building destroyed was in the midst of the most combus- tible as well as valuable part of the town.
[1841.] The freshet of the second of January was one of the most remarkable ever known on the Merrimack in the winter. On Tuesday week the cold was excessively severe, the mercury down to sixteen, eighteen, and nineteen degrees below zero in the morning. Wednesday moderate, eight degrees below zero, and commenced snowing. Thursday, rain and strong south wind. Friday, as warm as April. At noon the river had risen four or five feet ; by night-fall its banks were nearly full. About seven in the evening the ice started, and immediately a crashing sound, nearly as loud as the report of a small cannon, announced the destruction of the east part of the Free bridge, and pier after pier and section after section followed, till, at a little past eight, all but one pier on the west was carried away. One pier of the Federal bridge and two lengths of stringers were carried away. The ice blocked up the channel of the stream above the Lower bridge, and turned the water over the interval, thus saving the
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bridge. Fears were entertained that the river had cut a new channel for itself, but it soon resumed the old channel. The ice between Wattanummons and Federal bridge was piled up in such quantities that some of it remained till the following May.
On Thursday, January 21st, the Bridewell, situate in the basement story of the wooden building opposite the American House, was discovered to be on fire. In it was confined a fellow named Rufus Orcutt, charged with attempting the life of his wife in a brutal assault which he made upon her. The door of the Bridewell was immediately forced and Orcutt found half buried in the burning straw. When he was taken out it was supposed he was dead. His face, neck and breast were very much burned. Medical aid was soon procured, and he was restored in some degree, but he survived only till Sunday, 24th. He had once been in the State prison for life, but was pardoned, and had threatened, if committed to the Bridewell, to burn it. The fire was extinguished without much damage to the building.
Died in this town, May 9th, Miss Mary Clark, aged 49, daughter of the late Mr. Daniel Clark. Miss Clark was a lady of uncommon gifts and acquirements, of a social disposition, sim- ple in her manners, kind to the poor, ever sympathizing with the afflicted and suffering of all classes. In the latter years of life her health was very delicate, but she was interested in the events of the day, and especially in the cause of peace and the anti- slavery society. She was fond of historic and antiquarian research, and a particular friend of the late John Farmer, Esq. In religious views she was remarkably catholic ; admiring and loving all, of all classes and denominations, who possessed a humane and devout spirit, but she was not united with any in a religious profession. A short time before her death she prepared a paper, giving her " dying testimony, - being on the brink of Jordan, - against all those ministers and churches who have refused to pray for the slave."* She directed that her funeral should be without parade, and without the ceremony of an offici- ating clergyman. Accordingly, the services at the funeral were performed by her friends, Mr. Amos Wood and John B. Chandler.
On Sunday, September 12th, Stephen S. Foster, an anti-slavery * See Herald of Freedom, May 14, 1841.
-
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lecturer, from Canterbury, entered the North meeting-house, (the pastor, Rev. Mr. Bouton, being absent on an exchange with Rev. Jonathan Curtice of Pittsfield, ) and interrupted the usual order of services. He first prayed, kneeling in front of the pulpit ; then he ascended two or three of the pulpit stairs, and said he had a message from God to deliver. Refusing to desist, as requested by deacons of the church and others, three young men, Lyman A. Walker, James M. Tarlton, and Charles W. Walker, rose and took him, without violence, led him down the broad aisle, out of the front door, and he departed. He then pro- ceeded to the South church, where he conducted in a similar dis- orderly manner, and whence, with less ceremony, he was ejected.
Josiah Hardy, of this town, raised from one pumpkin seed seventy-five pumpkins - seventeen of them suitable for family use. Beat this, if you can! Who can furnish from one seed such a bountiful supply of pumpkins for thanksgiving ?*
Mr. Theodore T. Abbott, of this town, who carried on the cutlery business at Millville, contracted to supply the members of Congress, in 1841, with all the cutlery wanted for their use.
[1842.] Mr. Asaph Evans, formerly a trader in the old store corner of Pleasant and Main streets, died in New-York city, January 8th, aged 57 years. Mr. Evans was the first trader in Concord who voluntarily relinquished the sale of ardent spirits, after the temperance reform commenced.
The new Congregational meeting-house in East Concord was dedicated to the worship of God, January 13th. Sermon by Rev. Mr. Bouton.
Mr. Asa McFarland delivered the first lecture before the Concord Lyceum this year, February 4th, on " The Campaign of Napoleon in Russia." The lecture was ably written, and subse- quently printed.
OPENING OF THE RAILROAD TO CONCORD. On Tuesday eve- ning, September 6, 1842, at one fourth before seven o'clock, the locomotive " Amoskeag," with a train of three passenger cars and some baggage, came through from Boston to Concord. The grounds about the depot were thronged with men, women and children, to behold the new and wondrous sight! As the
* N. H. Patriot, November 4, 1841.
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cars came in the multitude raised a cheering shout, and the cannon pealed forth its thunders to celebrate the event.
A few minutes after the arrival, it was announced that the conductor would give the people a ride. Immediately every car was crammed, and scores could not find a place to stand or sit down. The train went a few miles - as far as Bow-crossing - and returned, with the party delighted at the thought that theirs was the first ride in the first hour after opening.
The locomotive, cars and every thing appeared in the finest order. The passenger train commenced running regularly twice a day, and the week following three passenger trains a day were run.
The Universalist meeting-house in Concord was dedicated on Thursday, October 6, two o'clock, P. M. Sermon by Rev. Otis A. Skinner, of Boston.
UNIVERSALIST CHURCH.
The "Millerites," so called, believers in the visible advent WWW of Christ and the end of the world in 1843, held a great meeting in Concord
The house here represented was oc- cupied by the Uni- versalist Society until June, 1855; when the Society, having decided to crect a new, more spacious and costly edifice, it was sold to the South Free Will Baptist Soci- ety, Rev. Hiram Whitcher, pastor, and moved to a lot 'near the south end of State street.
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the fourth week in July. Having erected and consecrated a spacious tent, capable of holding four thousand persons, on the hill, near where the house of Mr. Abel B. Holt now stands, a violent gust of wind soon after prostrated it to the ground. They next raised the tent in the valley west of the hill : assign- ing as a reason, 'that in raising the tent on the hill they had exalted themselves, and must move down into the valley of humil- iation.' On Saturday afternoon the wind blew violently, attended with rain, which fell in torrents and flooded the ground where the large tent stood, so that they were obliged to desert it. The smaller tents, beds, &c., were completely drenched, and the occupants, amid darkness, thunder, lightning and rain, at mid- night, were compelled to seek refuge in neighboring houses and in the public hotels of the village. On Sunday morning a fire engine with hose was used to draw off the water from the place of the encampment. The meeting was largely attended, and pro- duced great noise and excitement among believers in the doctrine.
The workmen on the railroad at the lower end of Main street, near the river, have dug out the bones of two bodies, supposed to be those of Indians .*
On Friday, September 2, a large company of gentlemen and ladies from Concord main village, visited Long pond. The gen- tlemen caught fish and the ladies cooked them, and with other eatables furnished by the ladies, a fine dinner was prepared. After dinner it was resolved that, henceforth and forever, what had been called " Long pond" should be known as " Lake Pen- acook." But, notwithstanding the resolution, Long pond is still " Long pond."
On the morning of July 4, at eight o'clock, the corner stone of the new meeting-house, for the use of the First Congrega- tional Society, at the corner of Main and Washington streets, was laid with appropriate religious services, to wit :
1. Singing, 87th Psalm, L. M.
2. Reading of select scripture by the pastor.
3. Depositing a box under the north-east corner stone, con- taining sundry documents.
4. Prayer, by the pastor.
* N. H. Patriot, August 11, 1842.
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5. Singing, hymn 64, 2d book.
By the ingenious use of tackling, the whole main body of the house was raised before four o'clock, P. M.
Messrs. Mack and Lambert delivered a course of lectures in Concord during the winter season of 1842, on physiology and anatomy. Their lectures were illustrated by a manikin, or model of a man, so ingeniously wrought and put together in pieces as to require a near inspection to satisfy a spectator that it was not a real living subject. Every portion of the human body, suitable for exhibition before a promiscuous assembly, was exactly represented.
On Wednesday morning, May 11, James M. Abbot, oldest son of Mr. David Abbot, was drowned in Horse-shoe pond. It is supposed that he fell out of a boat - his cap and a boat being discovered floating near each other in the middle of the pond at the time he was first missed. He was eleven years old. His body was soon after recovered.
Maj. William Walker, jr., and Nathaniel White, of Concord, and B. P. Cheney, of Boston, have established a daily express between Concord and Boston, (Sundays excepted.)
William Ainsworth, Esq., member of the House of Repre- sentatives from the town of New-Ipswich, died at his lodgings in this town June 14th.
FOURTH OF JULY.
Scenes of rowdyism and violation of law and order were at- tempted in this town on the evening of the glorious fourth. A barrel of tar was lighted in the middle of the State House yard, and the tossing of fire-balls begun, when the police of the town interfered, with the design to stop such proceedings. Several persons were arrested, tried and fined. One of the beautiful maples in the State House yard was nearly destroyed by the burning of tar under it .*
On Friday, July 8th, Nathaniel P. Abbot, aged twenty-one, fell from the belfry of the newly-raised meeting-house, and was
* N. H. Patriot.
29
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precipitated from the upper flooring to the ground, a distance of about thirty feet. Before any one reached him he was up and attempting to get upon the sill. A large gash was cut in his head, and he was much bruised, but no bone was broken, or dan- gerous wound inflicted.
George M. Thomas, aged eleven years and six months, only son of Rev. Moses G. Thomas, of this town, was drowned in Merrimack river on the 13th of July, near the Free bridge. He was bathing with other boys on the easterly side, and was missed about sunset by his companions. Between eight and nine o'clock in the evening search was commenced, and his body was found about half past eleven, P. M., near one of the piers, in about four feet of water.
OPENING OF THE ASYLUM FOR THE INSANE.
The New-Hampshire Asylum for the Insane was publicly opened for the reception of patients the first of November. Price of board for patients belonging to the State, two dollars and twenty-five cents. A patient from Tuftonborough was ad- mitted the week previous, who was rendered insane by the excite- ment on the subject of the second advent. He prayed, preached, exhorted and harangued upon the subject about four hours every morning, and remained quiet the rest of the day.
Died in this town, October 28, Mrs. Nancy B. Fletcher, wife of Samuel Fletcher, Esq., aged 54. Mrs. Fletcher was a woman of great excellence of character, intelligent, affectionate, charitable to the poor, of exemplary piety, and greatly beloved by a large circle of relatives and friends. Her maiden name was Nancy Bordman, a native of South-Reading, Mass. She was for several years treasuress of the New-Hampshire Cent Institution, and president of the Concord Female Charitable Society.
On Tuesday morning, November 15, about half past three o'clock, a fire broke out in a stable belonging to William Walker, jr., & Co., situated in rear of the houses and stores on the corner of Warren and Main streets. By the energy and prompt-
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itude of the firemen, with their engines, the fire was subdued with a damage only of about two hundred dollars.
DEDICATION OF THE NORTH CONGREGATIONAL MEETING-HOUSE.
J.N.
The new meeting-house erected for the use of the First Con- gregational Society was dedicated to the worship of Almighty God, November 23d. Introductory prayer was offered by Rev. Abraham Burnham, of Pembroke ; reading of Scripture by Rev. Moses Kimball, of Hopkinton ; dedicatory prayer by Rev. John M. Putnam, of Dunbarton ; sermon by the pastor, from 2 Chron. vii : 16 ; concluding prayer by Rev. Asa P. Tenney, of West Concord.
Public worship was first attended in the house on the following Sabbath, November 27th. The pastor preached in the morning from John ix : 27; " Will ye also be his disciples ?" In the
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afternoon from Acts ii : 47; " The Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved."*
A man died in this town, November 24th, who confessed on his death bed that he set fire to the barn of William Walker & Co., which was partially destroyed by the flames on the morning of November 15.
On Friday, December 6th, Mr. Horace Call, a young man of Concord, while at work in repairing the Free bridge, across the Merrimack river, fell from the bridge upon the ice, about fifteen feet. His fall was not discovered till some time afterwards, when he was taken up insensible, and supposed to be dead. His right eye and side of his face were much bruised. Dr. Renton was immediately called, and the young man was restored to con- sciousness and suffered but little permanent injury.
Thomas W. Dorr, who claimed to be governor of Rhode Island, and was leader of the insurrection in that State in 1842, visited this town while under indictment for high treason. He attended public worship, incog., at the North church, December 11th, but on the evening of the 14th a public meeting was held in the Court House, at which he delivered a speech occupying three hours. He was introduced to the meeting by Gov. Henry Hub- bard, and his speech was followed by a complimentary address and resolutions by Hon. Franklin Pierce.
[1843.] The evening passenger train of cars, which usually arrives here at about half past eight o'clock, run off the track about half a mile below the depot, on Tuesday evening, January 24th, in consequence of the switch being out of place. But lit- tle damage was done.
On Sunday afternoon, night, and Monday morning, February 6th and 7th, we had a very severe snow storm, with heavy drifts. The cuts on the railroad were so filled that neither
* Previous to leaving the old North meeting-honse as a place of public worship, a union meeting of the four Congregational churches in town was held in it. The meeting was attended two successive days, viz. : Thursday, 27th, and Friday, 28th of September, in which the several pastors took part, viz. : Rev. Asa P. Tenney, of the West church ; Rev. Daniel J. Noyes, of the South church ; Rev. Timothy Morgan, preacher at East church, and the pas- tor of the First church. In the forenoon of Friday the pastor preached a discourse on remi- niscences of the old meeting-house. In the afternoon about five hundred and fifty commu- nicants, belonging to the four sister churches, sat down to the Lord's Supper. It was a season of tender and affecting interest. Many wept at the thoughit of a separation from the place where they and their fathers had so long worshipped.
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train of cars due here on Tuesday arrived, and it was impossible to force a passage through from Nashua to Concord until Wednes- day afternoon, when the united energies of four powerful engines made a way through the drifts of snow.
APRIL 27. The freshet in the Merrimack river has been higher at Concord than has been known for a great number of years. The water, which a week ago last Monday was the high- est, fell some four feet by the last of the week. Since that time, in consequence of rains and rapid melting of snow, it has been rising again. A great portion of the interval is submerged, and the entrances into Concord from the east over Federal and the Free bridges arc impassable.
In anticipation that the second advent of Christ and the end of the world would take place on or about the 23d of April, 1843, according to the " Miller doctrine," a considerable number of people in this and other places, believing it, neglected all worldly business, gave themselves up to religious services ; ex- pended their property, and in consequence several became insane, and others were reduced to absolute want. At the time ap- pointed they stood in hourly expectation of seeing the " sign of the Son of Man " in the heavens, and of being caught up in the air to meet him, while the world should be burnt up. A com- pany went to the old burying-ground, to ascend with the rising dead. The day passed without any thing unusual !
TEMPERANCE MOVEMENT IN CONCORD.
At a meeting held in the Court Room the latter part of April, a committee, consisting of the following gentlemen : - Franklin Pierce, Lewis Downing, Abraham Prescott, Hosea Fessenden, Nathaniel B. Baker, Moses T. Willard, Joel C. Danforthı, Josiah Stevens, Jr., Zenas Clement, Joseph Low, Francis N. Fisk, Samuel Coffin, Richard Bradley, Chandler E. Potter, Abraham Bean, Joseph F. Dow, Harry Houston, Theodore T. Abbot, Moses Shute and Atkinson Webster, were appointed to report at an adjourned meeting such resolutions and plan, as, in their judgment, would most certainly and speedily cause the use and traffic in intoxicating drinks to cease in this town, except for mechanical and medicinal purposes.
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At an adjourned meeting, held at the old North meeting-house, may 7th, the above committee reported the following resolution and pledge, with a preamble and appeal :
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