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 51
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Among the anecdotes related of him are the following: Having occasion to go in haste from Concord to old Salisbury, on Saturday, and to spend the Sabbath, he found it convenient to borrow a pair of boots of his neighbor, Dea. George Abbot. Attending public wor- ship next day, he was unexpectedly called on by the clergyman, who knew him, (in the absence of the deacon, whose duty it was,) to give out the lines of the hymn to be sung. At first he said he was " con- siderably flustered, and could n't tell A from B;" but, recovering himself, he read the hymns and led the singing to general satisfac- tion. On returning the boots he said, "Dea. Abbot, here are your boots ; but I never will borrow them again, for a minister will smell a deacon's boots all over the meeting-house."
On a certain occasion Dr. Carter was called to vist a sick family in Bow. The family were a long time sick. The doctor was their constant attendant; and, on their recovery, the poor man felt new troubles coming upon him. "How, doctor," said the unhappy man, "am I to pay you for all your kindness, your attention and medicine ? You see here a large family, destitute of every thing save the bare necessaries of life." "I have been faithful to you," replied the doctor, "and am I not entitled to a reward?" "You are, doctor, oh, you are!" said the trembling wife, "but do wait a little; we can't pay you now." "I can inform you, my good friends," said the inex- orable physician, " that I am knowing to your having property enough to satisfy my demands; and, moreover, that I shall have it before leaving the house." The poor family were thunder-struck ; they knew that no friendly feelings subsisted between the proprietors of
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Rumford and Bow, but had always heard the doctor applauded as a man of benevolence and mercy. They knew not what to do. At this moment, away scampered a flock of kittens across the room, which the doctor seeing, caught one of them and put it in his pocket. " I told you I should have my pay," said the doctor; " I have got it. Good bye, and God bless you !" Many anecdotes of this kind are related of him, and one of the last acts of his life was equally noble. Just before his decease he looked over his accounts, filled out receipts against all poor persons who were indebted to him, with directions that his executors should deliver them to those concerned immediately after his death. This was accordingly done .*
Fond of social entertainments himself, and, according to the cus- tom of those times, receiving from the families which he visited all the civilities due to a respected physician, it is more a subject of regret than of wonder that his convivial habits were unfavorable to long life. He died in the meridian of manhood, September 17, 1767, aged 48. On a plain, old-fashioned grave-stone, erected on the brow of the ascent, after you enter the burying-ground, on the south side, his name is engraved - EZRA CARTER, Esq.
BENJAMIN ROLFE, ESQ.
Benjamin Rolfe, whose name appears in the early records of the town more frequently than that of any other person, was a son of Henry Rolfe, Esq., of Newbury, who was one of the original pro- prietors of Penacook. Benjamin was born in 1710; was graduated at Harvard College, in 1727; was chosen "clerk of the proprietors and grantees of Penny Cook," in 1731, and continued in the office till 1770. He was also town clerk of Rumford. In 1737 he was chosen clerk of the commissioners appointed to determine the boun- dary line between Massachusetts and New-Hampshire, which met at Hampton. In 1745 he held the commission of colonel in the Prov- ince. He was the first one chosen to represent the District of Rum- ford in the General Assembly of New-Hampshire ; and, during his life-time, he held every important and responsible office in town in the gift of his fellow citizens to bestow. Though he was not, strictly speaking, a lawyer, yet he acted as an adviser, and discharged the various duties of a magistrate in civil affairs. Intimately associated with the Rev. Timothy Walker in all that concerned the interests of the town during the long controversy with the proprietors of Bow, he enjoyed the full confidence of that reverend gentleman ; and to him, more than to any other man, except Mr. Walker, is the suc- cessful issue of that conflict to be ascribed. Of sound judgment ; prudent, upright, capable-minutely acquainted with all the affairs of the town - he ever sought, in the use of all honorable means, to advance its interests. By inheritance, and by his own industry and prudent management, Col. Rolfe acquired a large property in lands. He lived a bachelor until he was about 60 years of age, when he married Sarah, the eldest daughter of Rev. Mr. Walker, whose age
* Moore's Annals.
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HISTORY OF CONCORD.
was 30 .* Before his marriage he lived in a one story house, but af- terwards built and lived in the house still standing at the " Eleven lots," and known as the " Rolfe place," or the residence of the late Countess of Rumford. There was born, August 4, 1770, their only son and child, Paul Rolfe, who inherited the whole of his father's estates. Col. Rolfe died December 21, 1771, in the 62d year of his age. Sometime in the year 1773 his widow married Benjamin Thompson, afterwards distinguished as Count Rumford.+ Mrs. Thompson died January 19, 1792, aged 52 years. No grave-stones mark the spot where either Col. Rolfe or Mrs. Thompson lie buried.
Col. Rolfe was accounted the richest man in Concord at the time of his decease. He left no will, but an inventory of his estate was taken in due form April 1, 1772, by Capt. John Chandler and Joseph Hall, Jr. Timothy Walker, Jr., Esq., administered on the estate. From the inventory of his estate, in the office of probate at Exeter, the following minutes were taken :
"Real estate, £2352
10 0
Live stock, .
40
5 0
One negro,
55 0 0
1533 0 0
Cash at interest, [Et cetera,
101 15 4
Total amount, lawful money, £4082 10 4"
In the latter part of Col. Rolfe's life warm discussions would some- times rise in the meetings of the proprietors, between the Colonel and Philip Eastman. A meeting was held in the afternoon of the day on which the Colonel died. On returning home, Mr. Eastman said to his wife, " Well, Abiah, I have been to a meeting of the proprietors to-day and have not had one word of dispute with Col. Rolfe !" On expressing her gratification, he said, " There was a good reason for it, for he died this morning."
REV. TIMOTHY WALKER.
More than any other single person, Rev. Mr. Walker is entitled to the appellation of father of the town. After his settlement, in 1730, he first lived in a log-house which stood on the brow of Horse-shoe pond hill, but, in 1733 and 1734, built the two-story gambrel-roof house, ¿ in which he afterwards resided till his death. This house,
* No record of the time of this marriage is to be found.
t See Biographical Notice of Count Rumford, and of Sarah, his daughter.
# THE WALKER HOUSE.
This house is the oldest two-story dwelling-house between Haverhill, Mass., and Canada. It was erected by Rev. Mr. Walker on the house lot drawn to the first minister, in the year 1733-4, the town having generously voted [sce p. 142] him " fifty pounds for building a dwelling-house in Pennycook." Its dimensions were forty by twenty feet, two stories in height, with an ell adjoining on the east, of one story, both parts being covered by a gambrel-roof. The chimneys were very large, and of stone. One of them, which remained, as originally built, until 1847, was found upon its removal to be about five feet square, and constructed of flat, ledge stones, laid in clay mortar and plastered on the inside with a com- position of clay and chopped straw. Only the ell part was entirely finished at first, and contained but three rooms on the first floor. The front part remained in
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BIOGRAPIIICAL.
with some modern improvements, overshadowed by the stately elm trees which Mr. Walker set out in 1756, is well represented by the fine engraving which is here subjoined.
A few aged people who still remember Mr. Walker, say that he was full middling stature and size; not corpulent, but portly in form, and of dignified manners. His eyes were blue and complexion light. Naturally, his temper was quiek, but well restrained and governed. If at any time he was betrayed into hasty expressions or acts, he was prompt to acknowledge the fault, and ask the forgiveness of any one injured. He was exact and precise in all his domestic arrange- ments and business transactions, keeping a memoranda for every day
an unfinished state until 1757, when, with the assistance of Lieut. Webster, of Bradford, a joiner of high repute in those days, it was also completed. The wood-work being near to completion, it appears, from a letter dated the 9th of September, 1757, addressed by Rev. Mr. Walker to his son Timothy, then teaching school at Bradford, Mass., that a grave question arose as to the pro- priety "of painting ye outside." The decision arrived at is not now known, but, either at that time, or a few years subsequent, it was painted a light yellow, which continued to be its uniform color for at least seventy years. The interior was finished in a style similar to that found in the better class of houses of that period. Most of the partitions were of wooden panel work; the front hall was dadoed with paneling, and the front stairs were in three short flights, conduct- ing to broad landings, and guarded by a moulded rail, supported upon curious wronght balusters. The rooms were painted various colors ; the north parlor
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HISTORY OF CONCORD.
in a year, in a little book done up in the form of an almanack. Though not talkative, he was agreeable in social intercourse, and occasionally facetious. According to the custom of the times he wore a large, powdered wig, and a three cornered cocked-hat, short clothes, and shoes with large buckles. He was held in high respect by all his parishioners. After service on the Sabbath, both morning and afternoon, the whole congregation stood until Mr. Walker went out - he respectfully bowing to those on each side as he passed down the broad-aisle.
Mr. Walker served the town, as a wise counsellor, in relation to every matter of public interest ; and, in connection with Benjamin Rolfe, Esq., who married his eldest daughter, drew up the first peti- tions for help against the Indians, addressed to the government both of Massachusetts and New-Hampshire, and also many of the papers used in the long controversy with the proprietors of Bow. As fully related in the History, he thrice visited England, as agent for the town in that vexatious litigation, and through his judicious and persevering efforts, and his personal influence with his counsel, Mr. Murray-after- wards lord chief justice Mansfield-secured forever the rights of the proprietors of Rumford.
As a preacher, Mr. Walker was instructive and practical, dwelling more on the duties than on the doctrines of religion. He was calm and moderate in his delivery ; his sermons - of which a considera- ble number still exist - were mostly written out in full, on sheets of paper folded in the 18mo. form, and would occupy about thirty minutes. Sometimes we find extracts of considerable length from favorite authors, such as Tillotson, Foster, Poole and Brackett. His style was good for that period, perspicuous and didactic, with but few illustrations, but well supported with quotations from Scripture.
In his theological views Mr. Walker was "Orthodox," according to existing standards. He received the Westminster Assembly's Catechism, which was then also used in the families and schools of the town. In distinction, however, from those preachers who in his day were called " New Lights," he was accused of being an Armi-
and south parlor chamber being green, the south parlor blue, the north parlor chamber and the old people's bed-room white, and the kitchen red. Thus con- structed and finished, it remained without alteration, with the exception of an enlargement of the ell, until 1848, when it was modified in some particulars, and thoroughly repaired by its present proprietor. In 1739 it was appointed a gar- rison house, and fortified, "at the town's cost," by the erection about it of a wall of timbers lying in contact one upon another, and held in position by tenon-ends let into grooved posts set into the ground. [Sce pp. 153-4.] Eight families besides Mr. Walker's were assigned to it, and ocenpied it more or less of the time until the close of the second French war. When, in 1782, the Legislature met in Concord for the first time, and held its sessions in the hall over Judge Walker's store, which was near by, the President of the State, with his Council, occupied the north parlor of this house, while the south parlor served as a general committee room, and the room above it as the office of the Treasurer of State. It was the residence of Rev. Mr. Walker until his death ; and his son, the late Judge Walker, lived in it during almost the entire period of his life. It is now owned and ocenpied by Joseph B. Walker, Esq., a great grandson of Rev. Mr. Walker.
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BIOGRAPHICAL.
nian, but called himself a " moderate Calvinist." He was highly conservative, as it regarded innovations and new measures. Hence, in the period of the great Reformation, under the preaching of Rev. George Whitefield and others, Mr. Walker was among those ministers who did not favor the excitement which was generally awakened. In January, 1743, he preached and published a sermon to his people, entitled, " The way to try all pretended Apostles," from the text Rev. 2: 2. In this sermon he dwelt at length on the evils produced by itinerant preachers ; especially the divisions which they caused in established churches and societies. Hence he warned his people not to go after them, or hear them preach. "Nothing," he says, "I am well satisfied, has so much contributed to the evils that do so eloud the present day, and look with such a direful aspect upon us, as the indulging an unmortified itch after novelties, and having the persons of strangers, whom we know nothing of, in admiration, and setting them up above the place of instruments. If, therefore, you would not become accessory to the guilt of those who are endeavoring the subversion of our religious Constitution, keep out of the way of temptation as much as may be; ponder well the first step that leads to a compliance with these errors."
At this time all of Mr. Walker's hearers were of one way of thinking in religious matters; and his object was to keep them together, and make them steadfast in the "religion and church order which was very dear to our forefathers." Conscious of the power he had over his people, he not only charged them not to go after or to hear these pretended Apostles preach, " but," said he, "if any of you think yourselves unable to manage a controversy with them, invite them to accompany you to my house, and I will gladly under- take this, or any other service I am capable of, for the benefit of your souls."
In 1771 Mr. Walker felt himself called on to give his people another warning against innovations, and what he counted disturbers of the peace and order of the churches. A Baptist elder, Hezekiah Smith, of Haverhill, had preached in the vicinity, and awakened much interest in his peculiar views. To counteract this influence, Mr. Walker preached a discourse, May 12, 1771, entitled, " Those who have the form of Godliness, but deny the power thereof, described und cautioned against." The text was 2 Tim. 3: 5. The sermon was " published at the desire of many of the hearers." It is dedi- cated " to the church and congregation under the author's pastoral care, having been composed and delivered solely for your benefit, without the most distant view of its farther publication, is now respect- fully inscribed by him who esteems it his highest honor and greatest happiness to serve your best interest.
TIMOTHY WALKER."*
During his ministry of fifty-two years there is no regular record of church proceedings after 1736; but in his memoranda there are entries made of those who owned the covenant, were admitted to
* See Rev. Mr. Bouton's Centennial Discourses, pp. 29 and 78.
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HISTORY OF CONCORD.
communion, baptized, married and died, together with notices of private affairs, the weather, journeys, &c .*
From the memoranda kept by Mr. Walker it appears that he did not confine his labors to his own people, but performed what may be called missionary labors in destitute places. In 1766 he visited the Pigwacket country, which included Conway and Fryeburg, which towns were originally settled in part from Concord, about the years 1764 and 1765 ; there he preached and baptized their children.
During his long ministry Mr. Walker enjoyed remarkable health. Tradition says that he was able to preach every Sabbath, except the one previous to his death. Probably this is not quite correct; for in the warrant for a town-meeting, March 3, 1778, four years before his death, we find the following article : "To see if the parish will vote to hire preaching, if the Rev. Mr. Walker remains unable." The article was not acted on, and Mr. Walker resumed and continued to perform the duties of his office till near his death. A short time (two or three weeks) before this occurred, he set out to attend a funeral of a Mrs. Simonds, in the south part of the town, at what was called the Iron Works, but on his way, as was supposed, he became bewildered, or had a slight paralytic shock. It seems that,
* The following are a few specimens :
1749. May 7. Abigail, second wife of Jacob Shute, ad. full com. She was Widow Evans, mother of Jno.
July 2. Sampson Colby and wife ad. full com. August 29. Bot chair.
October 10. Preached to Convention at Dover.
January 7, 1749. Ben. Eastman and family moved up here.
March, 1749. Pd. Sam. Little for making clock-case.
1748. October 27. Mr. W. attended ye funeral of his aged mother-in-law.
1750. April 8. Ben. Eastman and wife admitted into ye church.
June 24. Sarah Abbot ad. to full com.
October 7. Received Jonathan Straw and wife into our church.
1757. January 27. Richard Herbert married to Hannah Hall.
October 16. Both owned ye covenant.
November 20. Jona. bap.
1766. Sunday, 28th September. Preached at Mr. Swan's, in Pigwacket. Arr'd 25; lodg'd at Capt. W.'s.
Monday. 29, Visited and lodged at Mr. Moses Day's. Bap. Judith, his daughter.
October 5. Preach'd at Pigwacket. Bap. Susanna, daught. of - Holt; Barnard, son of Timothy Walker, jun., [not Judge Timothy Walker ;] Susanna, daught. of Sam. Osgood ; Ann, daughter of Leonard Harriman ; Robert, son of David Page; William, son of Jno. Evans ; Sarah, daught. of David Evans ; Win., son of Wm. Eaton ; Moses, son of Jas. Osgood ; Wm., son of Ben. Osgood. Il bap. at Pigwacket.
In his memorandum of 1780-tho last one entire which can be found - are the following interesting notices :
January 7. Philip [ Abbot, his hired man, ] went with a team to Portsmouth.
January 15. Teams that had been detained below a fortnight by the deep or drifted snow, arrived.
January 23. Preached all day -very cold - the coldest Sunday yt has been for years.
March 12. Preached. Read ye letter from Pembroke chh. to assist in ordaining Mr. Colby. The church chose Col. Thomas Stickney and Tim'y Walker, jun., Esq., delegates.
April 17. Nathaniel Eastman's house was burnt.
April 26. A Continental Fast. Preached.
May 19. A remarkable dark day, although the clouds appeared thin.
June 30. Ileard that ye French fleet had got possession of HIalifax. N. B. Agreed with ye post-rider for half a year's newspaper, beginning ye 28th of June and to end ye 21st of December.
August 8. Finished winter-rye harvest - had about 47 shocks.
October 20. 'The town was assembled to raise men to resist the enemy at Cowas [Coos?]
October 21. Finished making cyder -having made thirteen barrels of cyder, and upwards
of five barrels water-cyder.
October 27. A remarkable eclipse of the sun.
November 28. The post arrived - brought the good news of the arrival of ye French fleet off Georgia.
December 9. A Continental annual Thanksgiving.
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BIOGRAPHICAL.
in fording a stream, he dismounted from his horse, and, taking the bridle in his hand, attempted to lead him, while he walked on logs laid across it ; but the horse refused to go, and got away. Failing to attend the funeral, his absence created alarm, and word was sent to his family. Immediately his son Timothy, with others, went in search, and found Mr. Walker lying on the ground, his elothes wet, and he much exhausted. They helped him mount his horse, but he rode home with difficulty. The next Sabbath he was prevailed on by his family not to preach. About two weeks after this, on Saturday after- noon, he visited his aged relative, Mr. Isaac Walker, who had long been sick, and who lived in a house near where Abiel, his grandson, now lives, and conversed and prayed with him. On leaving, Mr. Walker bade his aged friend farewell, saying, " I do not expect to see you again."
For convenience, in his old age, Rev. Mr. Walker slept in the north front room of his house, and his hired man, Philip Abbot, was near by, to assist him whenever necessary. On Sabbath morning, September 1, he woke early and said, "Come, Mr. Abbot, build a fire, for I am tired of lying." A fire being made, Mr. W. rose, partly dressed himself, and with his loose gown of green baize on, sat down in his armed chair, as usual, before the fire to tie his shoes and complete his dress. Abbot perceived that he slipped forward in his chair, and quickly going to him, he found him nearly helpless. He was laid back on his bed, the family called, and a physician sent for, but in a very short time Mr. Walker expired.
The people from the West Parish were on their way to meeting before they heard of his death. It was so sudden and unexpected that they could hardly credit the report; but supposed it must be Mr. Isaac Walker, who had long been sick, and who also died the same day. Gathering, however, at the meeting-house, the report of their aged minister's death was confirmed, and the day was to them all a day of sadness .*
On the plain slate slab which stands at the head of his grave in the old burying-ground, is the following inscription :
THIS STONE, Erected by the Town of Concord, IN MEMORY OF THE REV. TIMOTHY WALKER, Late Pastor of the Church in said Town, WHO DEPARTED THIIS LIFE Sept. 1, A. D. 1782, In the 78 year of his age, And 52 of his ministry.
ANECDOTES OF REV. MR. WALKER.
Tradition has handed down a number of anecdotes of Rev. Mr. Walker, of which the following may be worthy of a place in our history.
* See funeral services, &c., p. 284.
36
.
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HISTORY OF CONCORD.
In time of peace Indians frequently called at his house, where they were hospitably entertained. On one occasion a number of the warriors, with their guns, encamped near his house. Mr. Walker being absent, his wife was under great apprehensions of injury. The Indians, perceiving this, said, " minister's wife afraid." Upon this one of them delivered her all the guns, and said they would call for them the next day. This they did, and treated her with great civil- ity .*
One Sabbathı afternoon Mr. W. preached from the text : Ecclesi- astes 5 : 4, 5, " When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it," &c. In the discourse he showed that all the vows which we make should be paid. An Indian was present, and listened very attentively. After meeting, the Indian came to him and said, "I vow I will go home with you." "Very well," said Mr. W., "you may go home with me." "I vow," says the Indian, "I will have some supper." "Yes," was the reply, "you may have some supper." "I vow," says the Indian, again, " I will stay all night." By this time Mr. W. saw the joke, and instantly replied, "I vow you shall go away in the morning."
Mr. W.'s dignified deportment and manners were such as to com- mand universal respect. The noted Ephraim Colby, who worked much for him, used to say, that "Parson Walker was the only man the Almighty ever made that he was afraid of."
Going out to work one day with his hired man, John Evans, with a team and cart, they had to pass a very wet and muddy place. In passing it, John sat on the cart tongue, or neap, while Mr. W. was in the cart. When about mid-way of the muddy place, John slyly pulled out the pin which held the cart down, and dropped it, to make Mr. W. think it worked out accidentally ; up went the cart, and out went Mr. Walker into the mud and water. He got up, and said, " John, this is a bad accident, but drive on, and I'll go back." A few days after, Mr. Walker having been absent from home, he went late in the afternoon into the field where John was at work. When it was time to go home, Mr. W. told John that he would drive the team, and accordingly took his seat on the cart tongue, while John was in the cart. At about the middle and deepest part of the muddy place, Mr. Walker pulled out the pin, and down went John into the mud and water, and was thoroughly soused. When he got up, Mr. W., holding up the pin, says to him, "John ! John ! here is the pin : " I did'nt throw it away !" A hearty laugh ended the joke. t
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