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 56
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But it was in the more private relations of life that the subject of this imperfect notice was the best appreciated. Of gentlemanly manners and pleasing address, he had a quickness of perception and readiness of reply, which could not fail to distinguish him in the ex- tensive circle of private friendship. Naturally rather taciturn, and only speaking when he had something to say, his peculiar qualities
* See History, pp. 344-5.
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were less known to the world at large. In the family and social circle he was often the "observed of all observers," by the point and terseness of his ready replies. He seemed to know the exact place, in colloquial discourse, when quietly to let fly the arrows of his wit, and, keen as they might often be-being aimed not at partic- ular persons, but at men and things in general-there was seldom or never any festering wound left behind.
Col. Kent, though slender in form, and always after a severe fever which he had in carly life, considerable of an invalid, was remarkably quick and active in his motions, retaining his erect attitude and the suppleness and elasticity of his limbs, to the time of his last sickness and death. He was accustomed to take frequent walks, to work a good deal in his garden, (of which he was very fond,) to take occa- sional exercise in early life in the way of gunning and fishing; and in later years in journeying, especially in visiting, at least once a year, and staying for days, and sometimes weeks, at Hampton Beach, or some other of our various New-England watering-places, where he was often the life of the social circle. He retained his usual health to within less than a week of his decease, and his mental powers ap- parently unimpaired to the very last; and died of an inflammatory disease of the bowels, on the 7th of April, 1840, at the age of sev- enty-five years. For several of the last years of his life he was a member of the Unitarian church in this town, and always a diligent reader of the Holy Scriptures ; constant in his attendance upon public worship, and exemplary in his daily habits and manner of life, from his youth up. Old as he was, he had not outlived, and had, indeed, hardly impaired his usefulness, up to the time of his decease. His funeral was numerously attended, and his departure mourned, both as a private and public loss, by his townsmen generally, and by a large circle of relatives and friends .*
The admirable lithograph likeness accompanying this notice was taken from a painting by a Mr. Edwards.
PHILIP CARRIGAIN, ESQ.
Philip Carrigain, son of Dr. Philip Carrigain, was born in Concord, February 20, 177-,t and graduated at Dartmouth College in 1794; studied law with Arthur Livermore, Esq., and settled in practice in his native town. He was chosen Secretary of State by the New- Hampshire Legislature in June, 1805, and sustained that office four years. He was employed by the State government to prepare a Map of New-Hampshire, which he published in 1816-a work which reflects great credit on the author, and is highly honorable to the State under whose patronage it was executed. Mr. Carrigain was several years clerk of the Senate, and was often employed in public business. He was for some years in the practice of law at Epsom and Chichester : but subsequently came to Concord, where he died,
* See " Kent family."
+ The original record appears to have been altered. He was probably born in 1772.
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in very reduced circumstances, March 15, 1842, aged 70 years. A writer in one of the public journals thus speaks of him. "The late Philip Carrigain, Esq., of Concord-a quick witted, genial person- age-when he held the office of Secretary of State was frequently beset for his name, to be placed upon petitions for office. Carrigain, it is said, signed all the papers offered. He wrote a beautiful hand, and wielded a pen with the skill and dexterity of a writing-master. The flourish beneath his name is well remembered by multitudes of people in all parts of New-Hampshire-flourishes representing a plain oblong circle, with accompanying scrolls; or the head, beak, and neck of an eagle ; or the head of a lion, or the figure of the quill with which he wrote. He signed, as remarked above, all the papers presented ; but had this understanding with Heads of Departments, that unless there was the head of an eagle beneath his name, no atten- tion was to be paid to the signature."
A friend who knew him well says : "Philip Carrigain, Esq., will be remembered for his social and convivial habits, the general kind- liness of his disposition, the versatility of his talents, his apprecia- tion of wit and humor, and his readiness at repartee. He was a gentleman in his manners-and although he suffered himself to be- come and to remain a bachelor, even to three score years and ten, was always a great admirer and flatterer of the fair sex. His com- pliments were often rather fulsome-but sometimes blended, whether intentionally or not, with a spice of raillery. He paid this rather ambiguous compliment to a bevy of young ladies, coming out one summer evening from a convivial entertainment, and manifesting in their homeward walk a good deal of sportive glee, as well as great "confusion of tongues :"
" The dog-star rages - and, 'tis past a doubt, " All Bedlam - or Parnassus - is let ont."
When Secretary of State under Gov. Langdon, whose Council as well as himself, (Hon. Elijah Hall, Col. Quarles, Gen. Pierce, &c.) were all ignorant, to say the least, of any tongue but our own, a letter came to the Executive from the celebrated John Randolph, sealed with his armorial seal, and bearing the Latin motto, " Fari que sentiat"-three words from Horace, signifying "to speak one's mind," or what one may think. The Secretary, being a college- learnt man, was appealed to, to translate the motto. It would not do to seem to be at fault, or at any loss about it-although, from the ob- soleteness of the word " fari," a better scholar than Col. Carrigain might have been pardoned some little hesitation. The Secretary took the letter, wholly at a loss about the true rendering of the motto -but, in his rapid way, at once replied, " Fari que sentiat-Fari que sentiat-yes, your Excellency, a fine motto-a very fine motto-very characteristic of Mr. Randolph." " Well, what is the English of it, Mr. Secretary ?" says Gov. Langdon. "O, yes, your Excellency- Fari qua sentiat-yes, the English-yes, very fine motto, very pat- riotic, very characteristic of Mr. Randolph. It is, your Excellency,
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' My God and my Country !'" The sentiment was thereupon pass- ed round the Council Board as a very fine one-and " the Secretary stood alone," as he will always stand, in his translation of it.
Mr. Carrigain, about 1799, built the large house at the North end, now owned by Robert E. Pecker and Jonathan E. Lang. Tradition says that about that time he was disposed to pay his addresses to the daughter of Pres. John Wheelock, of Dartmouth College, and that his large anticipations had some influence in determining the size of the house. He was never able to finish it, and for many years eld- erly people spake of it as "Carrigain's Folly." His remains were interred in the old burying-ground, and remained several years with- out a monument; when, by means of a subscription by friends, a handsome white marble one was erected, bearing the simple in- scription :
Hon. PHILIP CARRIGAIN, Formerly Secretary of State, AND Author of the Map of New-Hampshire, Died March 15, 1842, Æt. 70.
GOV. DAVID LAWRENCE MORRIL.
Gov. Morril came to this town from Goffstown, in 1831, and re- mained a highly respected and useful citizen until his death, Jan- uary 27, 1849, aged 76 years. He was born in Epping, N. H., June 10, 1772 - son of Samuel Morril, a native of Wilmington, Mass., and son of 'Rev. Isaac Morril, of that place. Gov. Morril's father married Anna Lawrence, only daughter of David Lawrence, Esq., of Epping, who had two children, David L. and Samuel.
Few men in the State ever sustained more numerous, various and important offices than Gov. Morril. Having pursued preparatory studies with his grandfather, in Wilmington, and at Exeter Academy, he commenced the study of medicine, and entered into practice at Epsom, in 1793. In 1799 he experienced a great change in his religious feelings, and in 1800 studied divinity with Rev. Jesse Remington, of Candia. In 1802 he was ordained pastor of the church in Goffstown, but resigned his charge in 1811, and resumed the practice of medicine. In 1808 he was elected representative for Goffstown to the General Court, and reelected each year till 1817. In June, 1816, he was speaker of the House; and the same session was chosen to the Senate of the United States for six years, and was a member during the excitement attending what is called the Mis- souri Compromise. In 1823 he was elected a member of the New- Hampshire Senate, and was president of that body. He was elected governor of New-Hampshire in 1824, by the Legislature, and the three following years chosen governor by the people. In 1825 he had 30.167 votes, out of 30.770 which were cast. Gov. Morril re- ceived the honorary degree of M. D. and A. M. from Dartmouth College, and of LL. D. from the University of Vermont. IIe was
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president of the Hillsborough County Agricultural Society, of the New-Hampshire Missionary Society, of the New-Hampshire Coloniza- tion Society, of the American Doctrinal Tract and Book Society, and of the New-Hampshire Branch of the American Education Society, and vice-president of the American Bible Society, of the American Sunday School Union, and of the American Home Missionary Society.
The following are publications of Gov. Morril : A concise letter, on the subject of baptism, addressed to Rev. D. Merrill, 1806; two funeral sermons, 1811, 1819; oration, July 4, 1815; a discourse before the Grand Lodge of New-Hampshire, 1819; a sermon on divine decrees, the divine glory, and moral agency, Luke 22: 22; observations on Genesis 3 : 4, 13 - thoughts on Rev. 20 : 10, printed in the Hopkinsian Magazine, published at Providence, R. I., 1828.
September 25, 1794, Gov. Morril married for his first wife Jane Wallace, of Epsom, who died December 14, 1823, aged 53 years, leaving no child. August 3, 1824, he married for his second wife Lydia Poor, of Goffstown, by whom he had four sons, viz., David L., who died in infancy ; David L., a graduate of Dartmouth College in 1847, now in the practice of law in West Brookfield, Mass .; Samuel, a physician, and William H.
During his residence in Concord, after 1831, Gov. Morril did not engage in public life, but retained his active and industrious habits to the last. At one time he was connected with a company in pub- lishing the Scriptures, and was two years editor of the New-Hamp- shire Observer. He carefully superintended the education of his sons ; was strongly attached to the Calvinistic doctrines of religion, and at the time of his death was a member of the South Congrega- tional Church in Concord. He died of paralysis, after a sickness of about eight days, expressing hope in the mercy of God, through Jesus Christ, of a blessed immortality.
ABIEL CHANDLER.
Abiel Chandler is known as the distinguished benefactor of Dart- mouth College, by a legacy of fifty thousand dollars, " for the estab- lishment and support of a permanent department, or school of in- struction in said College, in the practical and useful arts of life." He was, also, the patron of the New-Hampshire Asylum for the Insane, in his lifetime, by the gift of a convenient carriage for the benefit of the inmates; and in his will, by a legacy amounting to about twenty-five thousand dollars.
Mr. Chandler was a son of Daniel, and grandson of Capt. John Chandler, one of the original proprietors. His mother was Sarah Merrill, daughter of Dea. John Merrill. His parents were poor. Abiel was born February 26, 1777, in a house which stood just west of Richard Bradley's, on or near the spot where Hamilton Perkins, Esq., has recently built a beautiful residence. An apple tree, within a rod of the new house-which may justly be called the " Chandler tree"-grew up in the cellar of the old house, after it was removed. Robert Bradley, Esq., of Fryeburg, says " he was well acquainted with
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Abiel Chandler when a boy ; that Abiel was remarkable in childhood for a steady, persevering purpose ; that his father, John Bradley, used to say that Abiel was the best Chandler boy he ever knew ; he would hoe in a field all day, without stopping, or looking up; when a boy he acted like a man." Ilaving observed these traits in young Chandler, John Bradley, Esq., who, with Jonathan Eastman, owned extensive tracts of land in Maine, offered to give Abiel forty aeres, in the township of Stowe, near to Chatham, provided he would go there and settle. This he accepted, at about the age of twenty-one. Working on his farm in summer, Abiel went in the fall and winter to the academy in Fryeburg, then under the instruction of Paul Langdon, of Portsmouth. Here he became acquainted with two gentlemen, graduates of Dartmouth College ; and hearing them con- verse and discuss subjects in a style superior to what he was capable of, the thought occurred, " Why may not I obtain an education and be able to converse as well as they ?" Advising with his teacher, he sold his farm and commenced preparation for college, which he com- pleted, partly at Fryeburg and partly at Exeter. On entering Har- vard College John Bradley, Esq., became bondsman for the payment of his bills. Graduating in 1806, he taught the grammar school in Salem, Mass., about eleven years ; spent a year afterwards in Balti- more, then became a commission merchant in Boston, in the firm of Chandler & Howard, and afterwards of Chandler, Howard & Co., where, by his industry, integrity and perseveranee, he acquired wealth and distinction.
In May, 1827, he married Dorcas Sargent, a daughter of Eppes Sargent, Esq., of Boston, who died, without issue, in 1837. Retiring from active business in 1845, he located himself in Walpole, N. H., where he died, March 21, 1851, aged 74 years.
Having in his last will given numerous legacies to nephews and nieces, residing mostly in Concord and in Fryeburg, Me., and viein- ity, many of whom were poor or in moderate circumstances ; and making, also, generous legacies to the relations of his wife, and to particular friends, he left the residue of his estate to Dartmouth Col- lege and to the Asylum for the Insane in New-Hampshire,-amount- ing, as stated above, in all, to seventy-five thousand dollars.
The Scientific School which he established at Dartmouth College is now in successful operation. The gentlemen who were appointed by Mr. Chandler executors of his will, and " visitors" of the school, are John James Maxwell and Francis Brown Hayes, Esqs., of Bos- ton, who were also Mr. Chandler's personal friends.
GOV. ISAAC HILL.
Among the men who were not natives, but for a long time citizens of Coneord, few have rendered their names more conspicuous in the affairs of the town and of the State, than Isaae Hill. The following tribute to his memory appeared in the New-Hampshire Patriot the week following his death; which occurred at Washington, on the
S W Chandr & dra with "da
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22d of March, 1851,* of catarrhal consumption, at the age of 63 years.
Isaac Hill was born in a part of Cambridge, Mass., which is now included in the town of Somerville, on the 6th of April, 1788. His parents were poor, and his advantages for obtaining an education were exceedingly limited. In 1798, when he was ten years of age, his parents removed to Ashburnham, where they had purchased a small farm. And here he had little schooling and much hard work for four years, when, at the age of fourteen, in 1802, he was apprenticed to Joseph Cushing, Esq., now of Baltimore, who had just commenced the publication of the Amherst Cabinet. At that office he laid the foundation of his future fortune; for there he acquired those habits of industry, frugality and perseverance, to which all his success in life is attributable. He there, also, while working at the case and in the evenings after hard days' labor, acquired what little knowledge of books he possessed when he commenced business for himself. He served a seven years' apprenticeship in that office, and left it at 21 years of age, in April, 1809, with a reputation for honesty, sobriety, industry and fidelity which is better than gold to a young man. le came immediately to Concord. Six months before this, in October, 1808, Mr. William Hoit had established here a newspaper called the "American Patriot."+ Prominent members of the Republican party here advised Mr. Hill to purchase that establishment and become the editor and publisher of the paper. This he did immediately, and two weeks after the expiration of his apprenticeship at Amherst, on the 18th of April, 1809, he issued the first number of the New-IIamp- shire Patriot.
This paper was the acknowledged organ of the Republican party, and the ablest men of that party aided and encouraged its young editor, and constantly contributed to its columns. Its circulation increased, its influence grew, and in a few short years its circulation and patronage exceeded those of any paper in the State, and the in- fluence of the paper and its editor became immense.
Mr. Hill edited the Patriot twenty years, and during that time he was twice chosen clerk of the State Senate; was once elected a Rep- resentative from the town of Concord, and was elected to the State Senate in 1820, 1821, 1822, and 1827. In 1828 Mr. Hill was the Democratic Republican candidate for U. S. Senator, and received the votes of the members of his party ; but the opposition had a major- ity in the Legislature, and Gov. Samuel Bell was elected. In 1829, soon after Gen. Jackson entered upon the duties of the Presidency, he appointed Mr. Hill to the office of Second Comptroller of the Treasury Department, and he entered upon the duties of that office on the 21st of March, in that year. The Patriot soon after passed into the hands of Horatio Hill & Co., Gov. Ilill still retaining an interest in it, until July, of that year, when Col. Barton took the edi- torial charge of it.
* The article I have somewhat abridged, but retained all the facts.
t Mr. Hoit, called " Veteran Iloit," died December 28, 1854. The printers of Concord have erected a monument to his memory.
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Mr. Hill held the office of Comptroller until April, 1830, and dis- charged its duties faithfully, ably, and to the entire satisfaction of the eminent patriot and statesman then at the head of the Government, whose confidence and friendship he enjoyed until the day of his death. His nomination was rejected by the Senate, and he then of course retired from the office. This act, though humiliating to the pride of Mr. Ilill, was in fact a fortunate circumstance to him. He returned to New-Hampshire, where his popularity was unbounded; and at the next session of the Legislature was triumphantly elected to the U. S. Senate for six years; and on the 4th of March, 1831, he took his seat in that body among the men who had just sought to disgrace him by rejecting his nomination to the office of Comptroller.
Mr. Hill was an able and devoted supporter there of the adminis- tration of Gen. Jackson, and a faithful representative of his State. He remained in that body about five years ; when, in 1836, having been elected to the office of Governor of New-Hampshire by the un- precedented majority of nearly 9000 votes, he resigned the post of Senator to enter upon the office of Chief Magistrate of his State. He was reelected Governor in 1837, and again in 1838; and in June, 1839, he retired to private life, having discharged the duties of the office of Governor, as he had those of the other offices which he had held, to the eminent satisfaction of his constituents.
In 1840, upon the passage of the Independent Treasury law, Mr. Hill was appointed by President Van Buren to the office of Sub- Treasurer at Boston, which he held until March, 1841, when he was removed by the administration of Harrison and Tyler.
From that time Mr. Hill has been in private life. In 1840, in connection with his two oldest sons, he established "Hill's N. H. Patriot," which they published and edited until 1847, when that pa- per was united with the Patriot. He also published and edited the Farmer's Monthly Visiter, an agricultural paper, for some ten years, which was esteemed a very useful and interesting journal by those to whose interests it was devoted. During the last fifteen years he had devoted much attention to agriculture, and had been engaged in that business on a very extensive seale.
We have thus hastily and imperfectly noticed the prominent events of Gov. Hill's life. Few men in this country have exerted so great an influence over the people of their State as he has over those of New-Hampshire. He possessed great native talent, indomitable energy, industry and perseveranee. As a political editor he had few equals, and his reputation in that field extended throughout the coun- try. "In all the private and social relations of life," it is truly said by the Boston Traveller, " he was kind and amiable. As a friend and neighbor, he was highly esteemed and always ready to do a favor." As a son, a husband, a brother and a father, he has left a reputation honorable to himself, and which will cause his memory to be cher- ished in the grateful recollections of the numerous relatives to whom he has ever been the best of friends and protectors. Although afflicted for many years with a painful disease, exerting at times an unfa-
SW chandler & Bib
About Hutchins
ABEL HUTCHINS.
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vorable influence upon his equanimity, yet we believe " the sober second thought" of those who reflect upon his past history and ser- vices and trials, will accord with what we have said of his estimable private character and his naturally kind and amiable disposition. And now that his spirit has gone to another, and, we trust, a better world, the unkindness engendered by political and personal differences will be forgotten, the faults and errors of the dead will be forgiven, and our thoughts will rest only upon his many private virtues and eminent public services.
The last sickness of Mr. Hill was of about five weeks' duration. During the last two weeks his eldest son was with him. His remains were brought to Concord, and his funeral took place on the 27th of March, at the residence of his family.
Mr. Hill has left a wife and three sons, all of age, besides numer- ous collateral relatives.
MR. ABEL HUTCHINS.
Mr. Abel Hutchins, whose likeness adorns the preceding page, was extensively and favorably known as the proprietor, for many years, of the Phenix hotel. Mr. Hutchins was a son of Col. Gordon Hutch- ins,* born in Harvard, Mass., March 16, 1763 ; served an appren- ticeship with Mr. Willard, brass-founder and clock-maker, in Roxbu- ry, Mass., and married Miss Elizabeth Partridge, of that town, Jan- uary 22, 1786. He then removed to Concord, where he remained till his decease, April 4, 1853. In connection with his elder brother, Levi, he carried on the business of his trade till about 1819- furnish- ing the public with large clocks, of the best manufacture, and noted as good time-keepers, - of which specimens are still seen in some of the ancient families. On the 25th of November, 1818, his dwelling- house was burnt down. t On the 1st of January, 1819, he opened the Phenix hotel, which establishment he ever conducted to the entire satisfaction of its guests, scattered all along the line from Bos- ton to Canada. In the year 1832, by reason of increasing years, he surrendered his tavern to his son, Ephraim, and retired to a private dwelling on State street, where he spent the remainder of his life in tranquility ; cultivating his garden, and taking a walk, with staff in hand, and spectacles on, to the old tavern stand, for the purpose of meeting old friends and obtaining the news of the day. On the 29th of March, 1853, his wife, who had long been an invalid, died, aged 85. This bereavement had a perceptible effect on Mr. Hutchins. He attended the funeral of his wife, but on the following Monday, awaking from his usual sleep after dinner, complained of a difficulty in his throat. Temporary relief was obtained, but in the evening he became worse, and, between nine and ten, almost before any alarm was created in the minds of his children, who were at his bedside, he expired without a struggle. The burial services took place on Thursday afternoon, the day of the annual fast, and were attended in the Unitarian church by a numerous assembly. The Rev. Augustus
* See pp. 265-272-274, and " Hutchins family." t See History, p. 374.
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