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 50
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* Lately sold to the New-York and Concord Granite Company.
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546
HISTORY OF CONCORD.
In 1819 Messrs. John P. Gass and Dearborn Johnson made a contract with the State, and hired the convicts at the prison, for the purpose of supplying a foreign market; and the products of their labor, by means of the Concord and Boston Boating Company, which had just commenced operations, reached Boston, New-York, Phila- delphia and Baltimore.
In 1820, and for quite a number of years afterwards, the business was successfully carried on by the warden of the prison, Capt. Moses Pillsbury, the successor of Capt. Dearborn, by whose efforts and per- severance stone splitting and cutting was reduced to a system. Stones were furnished to the prison in the rough at twelve and one half cents per surface foot, or fourteen cents per cubic foot. From 1819 to 1834 the foreign trade was pursued with vigor and profit, giving employment to many of the inhabitants of Concord.
Mr. Roby, who has carried on the business of cutting, splitting and hammering stone for the last fourteen years, relates that in 1842 he got out of his ledge stones for the Concord depot that weighed from twelve to fourteen tons. One of the largest of these stones, about seventeen feet long, he drew from the top of the ledge the back way - that is, by Little Pond road - having the power of forty yoke of oxen to draw it. The stone was placed on two strong, new sleds, in the month of March. The chain which he used, weighing about five hundred pounds, with studded links, was broken soon after the first start, and the sleds run back to the brow of the ledge against a large oak tree. One sled was entirely demolished, and the hind beam of the other broken. A second attempt, with new chains and sleds, was successful.
From this ledge, at the expense of the State, was furnished the block for the Washington Monument, four feet and two inches wide, and eighteen inches thick. It is polished and lettered, NEW- HAMPSHIRE.
From the summit of Granite hill, above Roby's ledge, is a magnifi- cent view of the main village, the interval of the Merrimack, and a large portion of the eastern section of the State. Westerly and northerly the prospect is bounded only by the distant horizon-taking in the Monadnock, Kearsarge, Moosehillock, and, in fine weather, mountains extending to the White hills.
There is a valuable granite ledge on the hill south-west of Richard Bradley's, owned by Joseph B. Walker.
On Horse-hill, near the Mast Yard dépôt, is a locality of porphy- ritic granite. Boulders, also, of porphyritic granite and of other kinds, some of mica slate, are found, supposed to have drifted from localities at the north.
A short distance from the West Concord meeting-house, on the line of the railroad, is a locality of quartz and feldspar.
IRON ORE in small quantities was found at an early period, in the south-westerly part of the town, and at the bend in the river, south- east of the main village, above Concord bridge. The surface of the soil still indicates the existence of ore.
547
DESCRIPTIVE.
Excellent CLAY, for making bricks, is found on the Hopkinton road, three miles from the State House; also, westerly of Turkey falls; on the Loudon road, near Turtle pond, and various other places.
Of the QUADRUPEDS, BIRDS, REPTILES and FISHES of Concord, little more can be said than that they are such as are common to the northern parts of New-England .* Bears, wolves, deer and beaver, formerly here, like the original natives, have become extinct, or withdrawn from the face of civilized men. The partridge is common, but the quail is a rare bird in Concord. After a residence of thirty years, the writer has yet to see the first one. Rattlesnakes are no more : the war against the varmint, and especially the premium offered for their " tails," has resulted in their extermination. For- merly, the good people caught their own shad and salmon, which annually, in the spring season, passed up the Merrimack to their summer resorts -in the Winnepiseogee and Pemigewasset waters ; but factories, and dams across the river, have impeded their course, and left us to lust in vain for their flesh. It is a curious fact, well attested, that formerly, as the shad and salmon reached the confluence of waters that form the Merrimack river, at Franklin, the former always went up the Winnepiseogee branch to the lake of that name ; and the latter, the Pemigewasset branch to the Squam and Newfound lakes - there respectively "to lay their young." A few salmon, in old times, went up the Contoocook river, and in ascending the falls where Fisherville now is, were caught in pots and nets. When Presi- dent Monroe visited the town, in 1817, he took an excursion, in a small steamer, down the river as far as the locks and canal at Garvin's falls, and in passing through the canal a large salmon was caught, which was taken on board and introduced to the President, who expressed his great gratification, and said it was the first live salmon he had ever seen.
Concord has never been distinguished for its fruits. The apple flourishes well, and was formerly raised in considerable quantities for the purpose of making cider. Within the last twenty-five years many of the old apple orchards have been cut down ; others have been renovated by being grafted with scions of a superior quality. Young orchards are found in every section of the town.
The pear and peach do not flourish so well in the main village as on the uplands east and west of the river. Vegetables common to New-England are abundant here. Native grapes are found ; but the more delicate exotic grapes are not sure of coming to maturity before they are nipped by frost. Various kinds of wild berries - the straw- berry, blackberry, blueberry, whortleberry, raspberry ; also, the hazel nut, oilnut, chestnut, walnut, (in less quantities,) are found in every section of the town.
TREES. Concord is distinguished for the elms and other beautiful trees which ornament the principal streets of the main village. The Rev. Timothy Walker, and his son Timothy, with the help of "Prince," about the year 1756, set out four elms standing in front
* See a list of these, severally, in the Documentary Chapter, furnished by William Pres- cott, M. D.
548
HISTORY OF CONCORD.
of the house of Joseph B. Walker, and the one standing now in the yard in front of the house where Mr. Walker was born ; and, also, one elm standing at the easterly corner of the house of the venera- ble Timothy Walker. One elm, a little north of the four first named, was probably set out about thirty years afterwards. These elms, taken together, are the most stately in town .*
Ezekiel Walker, brother of James, set out three elm trees in 1760, in front of the Hannaford house, so called, now belonging to Professor Stephen M. Vail, of the Biblical Institute.
Capt. Enoch Coffin, and his brother, Col. John Coffin, about the year 1782, set out the elm now standing in front of the house of Samuel Coffin, Esq., - a tree admirable for its fair and magnificent proportions, as represented in the above cut, though not equal to the original. The elegant elm tree close to the house of the late Abiel Walker was set out about the same time.
* Circumference of first, at three feet from the ground, sixteen feet ; at six feet from the ground, fourteen feet. Trunk divides into branches at twelve feet from the ground, and the diameter of the top, measured up and down Main street, is one hundred feet ; and measured at right angles with Main street, is one hundred feet.
Circumference of second, at three feet from the ground, twelve feet and nine inches ; at six feet from the ground, twelve feet and three inches.
Circumference of third, at three feet from the ground, nine feet ; at six feet from the ground, nine feet and three inches.
Circumference of fourth, at three feet from the ground, thirteen feet; at six feet from the ground, twelve feet.
Circumference of the fifth. at three feet from the ground, eight feet and two inches ; at six feet from the ground, seven feet and nine inches. This tree was planted at a later date.
Tree in front of Timothy Walker's house. Circumference, at three feet from the ground, twelve feet and nine inches ; at six feet from the ground, twelve feet and two inches.
RESIDENCE OF THE LATE COL THOMAS STICKNEY
549
DESCRIPTIVE.
Ephraim Colby set out an elm tree at the corner of the burying- ground, near a house owned by David George, now burnt down. Hle also set out the four elm trees in front of the house owned by the late Dr. Peter Green - since burnt down - now partly shading the house of Henry A. Newhall, opposite the Court house .* It is sup- posed that these trees were set out by Colby about the year 1787.
The six elms now standing in front of the old house of Rev. Dr. Bouton, were set out about 1787, by Major Daniel Livermore, who built the house in 1785. The wide-spread elms in front of the mansion of the late Col. Thomas Stickney [see view ] are said to have been set out by Ephraim Colby, about the year 1787. The late Mr. Jeremiah Stickney, who died in 1850, aged 85, used to say that when the trees were set out he was big enough to help hold them up.
This house, it will be recollected, was formerly a garrison house. From time to time it has been enlarged and modified, but still retains its venerable appearance. It has been occupied from the beginning by successive generations of the Stickney family. [See genealogy.] Mrs. Mary, widow of John Odlin, Esq., and daughter of Col. Thomas Stickney, now the oldest native woman in town, was born in this house, October 30, 1766. The house is now owned by Mrs. Mary Ann, widow of Thomas Stickney, jr., and is occupied by herself and her son, Joseph P. Stickney. The beautiful engraved view of the house and trees was executed by Mr. Herrick, now of New-York, son of Mr. Israel E. Herriek, formerly of Concord.
The noble trees at the Thorndike place, so called, on Main street, by the residences of Charles and George Hutchins and Stephen S. Sweet, are said to have been set out by Timothy Walker, brother of Isaac, grandfather of Abiel Walker, who formerly resided near that spot in a garrison house.
A majestic elm, with brawny limbs, thin foliage and defiant aspect, stands nearly opposite the residence of the late Col. Wm. A. Kent, that looks as if it had been in battle with the elements a hun- dred winters, but whose age is not certainly known. Other specimens of this superb tree, out of the main village, are equally worthy of note. On Stickney hill stands one, near the road, and close to the resi- dence of Capt. John Sherburne, that spreads its cooling shade in summer over a diameter of one hundred and seventeen feet. Its trunk measures seventeen feet at four feet from the ground. An- other elm, distinguished for its height and circumference of over- hanging branches, stands close to the road, near the house of Moses H. Farnum, about one mile and a half from the main village, on the Boscawen road. Of elms and other beautiful shade-trees of a more recent period, in the main village, those in front of the house of Samuel A. Kimball, Esq., were set out by Hazen Kimball, brother of Samuel A. About the year 1818, Samuel A. Kimball, Esq., took charge of setting out the rows of elms which adorn the side- walk opposite his house. In 1831, being highway surveyor, he set out a row of willows on the south margin of Horse-shoe pond.
* This house since purchased and occupied by Dr. Bouton.
550
HISTORY OF CONCORD.
Charles Walker set out six elms in front of his office and garden, now the residence of Joseph HI. Pearson, about the year 1802, and five more a little later, on a line with them, in front of his house, now owned by Cyrus W. Paige. There is a lofty elm in the house- yard of the late James Buswell.
The elm trees before the new North Church were set out in 1818, by old soldier John Elliot, who brought them from the West parish by hand, two at a time, on successive days. The premises were then owned by the late Mr. Robert Davis, 2d, and David Davis, then a clerk in his brother's store, paid Elliot twenty-five cents apiece for the trees, and assisted in setting them out.
The elms about the old North church, or Biblical Institute, were procured and set out under direction of the late Mr. John D. Abbot, of Brooklyn, N. Y., son of Nathaniel Abbot, in the spring of 1832. Mr. Abbot raised a subscription for the purpose, and the trees cost upon an average two dollars apiece.
Centre street is ornamented with a beautiful row of maples on each side, now of about twenty years' growth. The maples and elms which shade and beautify the State house yard are the growth of about thirty years. Nearly all of the younger ornamental trees in Concord main village were transplanted, when of small growth, from the adjacent forests, at the order of individuals who wished for them, and were dug up and set out by laborers, at an average price of from half a dollar to two dollars apiece, according to their size. In the summer a portion of the elms at the north end of Main street extend their waving branches till they meet and form an arch over the middle of the highway, far more beautiful and splendid than ever graced the triumph of a Roman conqueror.
Of the forest trees it need only be added that they are of every variety such as is common to the northern parts of New-England .* The abundant growth which formerly covered the plains and hills, and which still forms a marked feature of the town, led the fathers to discuss the question, whether the township was to be valued more for its rich intervals, or for its well wooded uplands.
The climate and temperature of Concord are favorable to health and longevity, as the statistical tables will show. In the extreme heat of summer the thermometer occasionally rises to ninety-six and even one hundred degrees, while the mean temperature in June, July and August together, is about sixty-three degrees. In the extremest cold of winter - that is, in December, January and Feb- ruary - the thermometer occasionally sinks to twenty-five and thirty degrees below zero, but the average for those months is about twenty degrees above. The mean temperature of the year is about forty-two and a half degrees .; Good sleighing commonly lasts from about the
* See a list, in the Documentary and Statistical Chapter.
t The following table, kept by the late John Farmer, Esq., shows the mean temperature in Concord of each month in 1836 :
January, 22.5 May, .
55.5 | September, 56.5
February, 14.7
June, 59.7
October, .
. 48.5
March, 26.0
July, . 67.6
November, . 37.0
April, . . 38.1 August, . 62.5
December, . 22.7
Mean temperature for the year, 42.4.
551
BIOGRAPHICAL.
middle of December to the last of February. Sometimes it com- mences in November and lasts till the middle of March. It has been known to continue till the first of April. The usual time of planting is from the 1st to the 20th of May, but good crops have been raised after the 1st of June. Cattle are turned out to pasture about the 20th of May.
No. 2.
BIOGRAPHY.
The following brief biographical sketches relate to individuals of every class and condition in life, whose names are either particularly prominent in the annals of the town, or who are remembered as dis- tinguished for peculiar characteristics or positions in society. Some things are related of individuals which, perhaps, family friends might prefer should be left out; but, in such cases, the facts are stated for general instruction and entertainment, and never designed to dis- parage the individual. In this difficult part of my work I have been studious to avoid all partiality. The sketches which have been fur- nished me are inserted as written, subject only to such correction and abridgement as was judged necessary. The sketches, it will be seen, relate only to persons deceased. Their names are arranged in the chronological order of their death. More might have been added, but it must not be inferred from the omission of a particular name that his merits are less appreciated.
It should further be noted by the reader, that, for special reasons, it was judged best, in many instances, to give a biographical sketch in other portions of the History; for example, under the head of ministers, lawyers, physicians and graduates ; and, also, in the body of the work, at the time of an individual's death -to all which reference may be had by the index of names.
CAPT. EBENEZER EASTMAN.
In addition to the many interesting facts respecting Capt. Ebenezer Eastman, which the preceding history furnishes-the part he took in the first settlement of the town -the services he rendered, and the offices of trust and honor which he held - it may be stated that, having considerable property, and coming as he did at the earliest period of the settlement, with six sons, the oldest of whom was 15 years of age, and able to work, Capt. Eastman became in a few years the strong man of the town. In 1731 his house and home lot were in better order, and more land under cultivation than any other in the settlement. From his youth he had been inured to hardship and to bold and daring enterprises. When 9 years of age (1698) his father's house and buildings, in Haverhill, were destroyed by Indians. At the age of 19 he joined the regiment of Col. Wainwright in the expe-
552
HISTORY OF CONCORD.
dition against Port Royal. In 1711, when the British fleet, under Admiral Sir Hovenden Walker, destined against Canada, arrived in Boston, the land forces that were to accompany the expedition were organized with great dispatch, and Eastman, then about 21 years of age, had command of a company of infantry, which embarked with others in one of the transports. In going up the river St. Lawrence they encountered a violent north-east storm, in which eight or nine of the transports were wrecked and about one thousand men lost .* Jonathan Eastman, Esq., great-grandson of Ebenezer, relates as a tradition derived from his ancestor, "That, as night came on, the orders were that all the transports should follow the admiral's ship, which had a large light hoisted at mast-head for a signal. Capt. Eastman had been somewhat acquainted with the navigation of the river, having sailed up and down before. In the night the light of the admiral's ship was not to be seen, and that was at the time when the fleet was doubling a very dangerous and rocky point or cape. When the admiral's ship had fairly doubled the point and got into line, the light appeared in such a position as to draw the line of ship- ping directly on to that dangerous point. Aware of the danger, Capt. Eastman went to the commander, informed him of the peril, and begged him to alter the course of the vessel ; but, being then under the influence of liquor, this the captain positively refused to do, say- ing that ' he would follow his admiral if he went to h-1.' 'Well,' said Capt. Eastman, 'I have no notion of going there, and if you won't alter the course of the vessel I will.' 'If you do,' replied the captain, 'your head shall be a button for a halter next morning.' Informing his company of their danger, and relying on their support, Capt. Eastman ordered the captain below, and the helmsman to change his course. Thus they escaped the wreck which befel other vessels of the fleet, and by which so many lives were lost. The next morning the humbled captain on his knees acknowledged his de- liverer and begged his friendship. On the following day Admiral Walker came on board, and, on seeing Capt. Eastman, abruptly said : ' Capt. Eastman, where were you when the fleet was cast away ?' ' Following my admiral,' replied he. 'Following your admiral !' he exclaimed; 'you Yankees are a pack of praying devils - you saved yourselves, but sent my men to h-1.' "
Capt. Eastman, March 4, 1710, married Sarah Peaslee, of Haver- hill, daughter of Col. Nathaniel Peaslee, the ancestor of Gen. Charles H. Peaslee. On settling in Penacook his "house-lot" was number nine, second range, on Main street, which was about where the house of Mr. J. H. Pearson now stands. But in the second survey, in 1727, Mr. Eastman had lot number sixteen, containing four and a half acres, on "Mill Brook range," east side of the river, where he finally settled, and had a garrison around his house.
Among many traditionary anecdotes it is related, that soon after settling in Penacook, he made a journey to Haverhill on horse-back, and purchased a barrel of molasses, which he intended by some
* See Holmes's Am. Annals, 1711, vol. i.
.
553
BIOGRAPHICAL.
means to convey home with him. He contrived what was called a car, that was formed with two shafts, one end of which was fastened to the horse and the other to the drag on the ground. Lashing the barrel of molasses on his car with ropes, he proceeded on his journey homeward along the path through the wilderness. He got along very well until he came to Soucook river. After crossing, the hill was very steep, and, in ascending, the horse with his drag would stop to rest a few moments. Having nearly reached the top of the hill, on starting, the rigging gave way and down went the barrel full speed, and was dashed in pieces against a tree - the molasses overspreading and sweetening the ground in all directions. The captain, summon- ing all the patience he had at command, exclaimed, "Oh dear ! my wife will comb my head - yes, and harrow it too !" It was truly a hard case.
As an illustration of the force and energy of his character in car- rying on his farming operations - In 1729 Capt. Eastman took a lease of the farm laid off to Judge Sewall, containing five hundred acres, with the island, for a period of thirty years. He was to pay, as rent, ten shillings in good bills of credit, or silver money, the first year; twenty shillings the second year, and so to advance ten shillings every year till it should reach fifteen pounds, which sum afterward should be annually paid. As conditions of the lease Capt. Eastman was required and agreed to improve the land, by good cultivation, "to the value of £100; to build a timber house and barn, which should be worth another £100; to leave on the farm £100 worth of good fences, of stone or timber ;" " to plant five hundred apple trees in a regular manner for an orchard, and, also, to set out one hundred more of fruit trees, as cherry, pear, quince, apple and plum trees."*
Capt. Eastman went to Cape Breton twice - the first time, March 1, 1745, in command of a company, and was present at the reduction aud surrender of Louisburg, June 16. He returned November 10, 1745. Early the next year he went "again, and returned home July 9, 1746."+
At the time of the massacre in Penacook, August 11, 1746, Capt. Eastman and family were in a garrison, on the east side of the river. Subsequently he erected, on or near the spot, a large two story house ; but before the house was finished Mr. Eastman died, (July 28, 1748,) aged 59.
DR. EZRA CARTER.
Dr. Carter, of whom we have already related many things in our History, was a native of South Hampton, in this State. He studied
* " BOSTON, May 14, 1730.
Received of Mr. Obadiah Ayre, ten shillings in behalf of Mr. Ebenezer Eastman, for rent of Pennycook lands. I say received per
S. SEWALL."
See original lease, now in the archives of the N. H. Historical Society, dated May 9, 1729, and signed "Ebenezer Eastman, (seal); Abijah Browne, (seal), Jos. Masion, (seal), wit- nesses." The farm was soon after sold to Joseph Gerrish and Henry Rolfe, of Newbury, to whom the annual rent was afterwards paid.
t Rev. Mr. Walker's Journal.
554
HISTORY OF CONCORD.
medicine with Dr. Ordway, of Salisbury, and came to this town about 1740. In 1742 he married Ruth, only daughter of Capt. Ebenezer Eastman, who, at the time of her marriage, was but 13 years of age. . According to family tradition their first child was born before she was 14 years old. After marriage Ruth retained her love for childish sports ; and, on one occasion, the doctor, on returning home, found his wife playing with other children on the hay-mow. Connected with Capt. Eastman's family, being respectably educated and a good penman, Dr. Carter soon became prominent in town affairs, as well as distinguished as a physician. In March, 1747, he was first chosen town clerk, in place of Benjamin Rolfe, Esq. The same year he was authorized to present a petition to the General Assembly of New- Hampshire for means of defence against the Indians; and as long as he lived he continued to hold important offices in the town, as mod- erator, town clerk and selectman. He held a commission as justice of the peace, and hence sometimes, in the records, he has the title of esquire. When matters of complaint were brought before him by his fellow citizens his first endeavor was to induce an amicable set- tlement, offering, if they did so, to give in his fees : thus he ac- quired the name of peace-maker. Dr. Carter was of a kind and benevolent temper, of quick wit and pleasantry in conversation, and a general favorite among all classes of people. His practice as a physician extended into neighboring towns.
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