USA > New Hampshire > Rockingham County > Derry > The history of Londonderry : comprising the towns of Derry and Londonderry, N.H. > Part 10
USA > New Hampshire > Rockingham County > Londonderry > The history of Londonderry : comprising the towns of Derry and Londonderry, N.H. > Part 10
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But while these excellences of character are acknowledged, and their influence is to this day manifest in their descendants, they had their weaknesses and their errors. Many of their customs were decidedly objectionable, as their marriage cere- monies, their wakes or watchings with the dead, and their funeral solemnities. On these occasions, ardent spirit was early introduced and freely used, and was not unfrequently productive of scenes most painful. " But these practices," to adopt the language of one, to whom reference has already been made, " were doubtless of Irish origin, and not the offspring of Scotland, whose inhabitants are uniformly distin- guished for their sober, regular habits. But what clung to them in Ireland, the disposition to humor, rioting, and laugh- ter, was only on the surface, playing there and varying the outlines of the countenance, while the strong granite features of Scotland were fixed deep in the soul. The unbending purpose, the lofty principle, the almost haughty adherence to what they believed true, and high, and sacred, resting on a religious basis, was the real substance of their character. They had foibles, they had weaknesses and errors ; but well may it be for us, if the refinements of a more advanced soci- ety, and a more liberal culture, should serve to give grace, beauty, and light to the same strong powers of thought ; the same courage, though in a different sphere ; the same gen- erous elevation of soul ; the same vivacity ; and above all, the same deep, thoughtful, religious principle that belonged to them."
It was such domestic scenes and habits, and such devotional exercises as the poet of Scotland has so beautifully depicted in his " Cotter's Saturday Night," which, as transferred by this company of emigrants to this land, gave such distinction to their settlement, and rendered it so prosperous and benefi- cial in its influence upon the community.
As many of their customs and practices have passed away, and even the recollection of them will soon be gone, it may
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HISTORY OF LONDONDERRY.
be well, in this historical sketch, to preserve such memorials as now remain.
The following description of the marriage ceremony, as witnessed in his early days, is furnished by an aged descend- ant of one of the first families which formed the settlement.
These occasions were celebrated with the strongest demon- strations of joy. When two persons were about to be united in wedlock, it was customary for the gentleman, in company with the father of the lady, or some one of her nearest connections, to go to the minister of the town and request publishment ; this, the minister more usually employed the clerk of the parish to perform, but sometimes did it himself. In the mean time, preparations were made for a sumptuous entertainment. The guests were all invited at least three days before the wedding, it being considered an unpardon- able affront, to receive an invitation only a day previous.
The bridegroom selected one of his intimate friends for the " best man," who was to officiate as master of the cer- emony, and the bride likewise one of her companions, as " best maid." The morning of the marriage-day was ushered in with the discharge of musketry, in the respective neighbor- hoods of the persons who were to be united. This practice it seems originated in Ireland, in consequence of the Catholics having been, after the Revolution, deprived of the use of fire- arms. The Protestants, proud of the superior privilege which they then enjoyed, made a display of their warlike instru- ments on all public occasions. Seldom was a respectable man married without his sword by his side. At the appointed hour, the groom proceeded from his dwelling with his select friends, male and female; about half way on their progress to the house of the bride, they were met by her select male friends ; and, on meeting, each company made choice of one of their number to "run for the bottle " to the bride's house. The champion of the race who returned first with the bottle, gave a toast, drank to the bridegroom's health, and, having
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passed round the bottle, the whole party proceeded, saluted by the firing of muskets from the houses they passed, and answering these salutes with pistols. When arrived at the bride's residence, the bridegroom's company were placed in an apartment by themselves, and it was considered an act of impoliteness for any one of the bride's company to intrude. When the ceremony was to commence, the " best man " first introduced the bridegroom ; then, entering the bride's apart- ment, led her into the room, and, placing her at the right . hand of her "intended," took his station directly behind, as did the " best maid." The minister commenced the marriage service with prayer ; on requesting the parties to join hands, each put the right hand behind, when the glove was drawn off by the best man and maid. Their hands being joined, the marriage covenant was addressed to them, with appro- priate remarks on the nature and responsibilities of the connection thus formed. Having concluded with another prayer, he requested the groom to salute his bride, which being done, the minister performed the same ceremony, and was immediately followed by the male part of the company ; the females in like manner saluted the bridegroom.
The ceremony being concluded, the whole company sat down to the entertainment, at which the best man and best maid presided. Soon after the entertainment, the room was cleared for the dance and other amusements, "and the evening," remarks our aged informant, kindling at the re- collection of by-gone' scenes, " was spent with a degree of pleasure of which our modern fashionables are perfectly ignorant."
The foregoing is a brief sketch of a Scotch-Irish wedding, as usually witnessed. But there was another form of mar- riage which became somewhat fashionable.
For some years previous to the Revolution, the governor of New Hampshire, appointed by the crown, was authorized to grant licenses for marriage, as a means of augmenting his
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HISTORY OF LONDONDERRY.
salary, which was in those days small. He was allowed two crowns for each license which he signed. This yielded a considerable revenue, as facilities were thus afforded for clandestine marriages, which often produced serious evils. The ministers of this town opposed the practice ; and it was regarded by the church as a subject of discipline, as several instances on the records of the church clearly show; but there were ministers who approved of this mode of marrying, and furnished themselves with licenses from the governor, to be filled out by them as occasion might require.
This was the case with the Rev. Mr. Flagg, of Chester, to whom those who wished to be married without publishment would resort from this and other towns. Hence such marriages were usually termed in this community " Flagg marriages." Several elopements and marriages took place in this way by persons of this town, some of a romantic character. In one case, the parties had been published, and the day of marriage had arrived ; all arrangements were made, and the bride's company had left her house to meet the bridegroom, as before described. In the mean time another gentleman rode up to the door : the horse being provided with a pillion, she imme- diately mounted behind him and departed, and, before the intended bridegroom had reached her father's dwelling, she was the wife of another. Such instances created a strong sensation in the community, and rendered them still more tenacious in their adherence to their ancient customs in this respect.
Their funeral observances were of a character, in some respects, peculiar. When death entered their community, and one of their number was removed, there was at once a cessation of all labor in the neighborhood. The people gath- ered together at the house of mourning, and during the earlier periods of the settlement, observed a custom which they had brought with them from Ireland, called the " wake," or watching with the dead, from night to night, until the
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interment. These night scenes often exhibited a mixture of seriousness and of humor which appear incompatible. The Scriptures would be read, prayer offered, and words of coun- sel and consolation administered ; but ere long, according to established usage, the glass, with its exhilarating beverage, must circulate freely ; so that, before the dawn, the joke and the laugh, if not scenes more boisterous, would " break in upon the slumbers of the dead."
At the funeral, whatever might have been the age, the character, or condition of the deceased, the assemblage would be large. Every relative, however distant the connection, must surely be present, or it would be regarded as a marked neglect; and it was expected that all the friends and acquaintance of the deceased, within a reasonable distance, would attend. Although funeral sermons were seldom if ever delivered on the occasion, yet there would be usually as large a congregation as assembled on the Sabbath. Pre- vious to the prayer, spirit was handed around, not only to the mourners and bearers, but to the whole assembly. Again, after prayer, and before the coffin was removed, the same was done. Nearly all would follow the body to the grave, and usually the greater number walked. Processions, from a third to a half a mile in length, were not unfrequent. At their return, the comforting draught was again administered, and ample entertainment provided. Many a family became embarrassed, if not impoverished, in consequence of the heavy expenses incurred, not so much by the sickness which pre- ceded the death of one of its members, as by the funeral ser- vices as then observed, and which as they supposed respect for the dead required.
Their diversions and scenes of social intercourse were of a character not the most refined and cultivated ; displaying physical rather than intellectual and moral powers, - such as boxing-matches, wrestling, foot-races, and other athletic exercises. At all public gatherings, the "ring" would be
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usually formed ; and the combatants, in the presence of neigh- bors, brothers, and even fathers, would encounter each other in close-fight, or at arms-length, as the prescribed form might be; thus giving and receiving the well-directed blow, until the face, limbs, and body of each bore the marks of almost savage brutality. All this was done, not in anger, or from unkind feeling towards each other, but simply to test the superiority of strength and agility.
The females, also, had their social interviews ; but they were unlike parties of modern times, marked by cold formal- ity, or ceremonious politeness, and by the exhibition and dis- play of costly attire and finery. They would assemble from time to time at each other's dwellings, carrying with them the small wheel and the flax, and spend a long half day in social talk and diligent labor, combining in the happiest man- ner pleasure and profit.
The Scotch-Irish have been distinguished for their wit and quickness of retort. Their repartees were often in a high degree sarcastic as well as humorous. The author had purposed to collect and insert a few anecdotes as illustrative of this trait of character, and which might also serve to enliven the historic details which chiefly compose this work. But in attempting it, he was soon reminded of an incident connected with the delivery of an election sermon, by Rev. Dr. Morrison, before the New Hampshire legislature. The legislature having voted to publish the discourse, and having specified the number of copies to be printed, a member of the body moved for an additional number, "provided they would also print the brogue." It was this, that often gave peculiar force and pungency to what was uttered : but this we cannot print.
Such were the traits which characterized the settlers of Londonderry, and their immediate descendants. The sub- stantial elements of their character well deserve attention, and long may they be cherished and perpetuated by their
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posterity. "Their faults - and faults they had - partly be- longed to the times, but were more the effect of strong feel- ings without the advantages of early discipline. At the same time, they had in them the rudiments of a real refinement, - warm, kind, and gentle feelings ; and specimens of polite- ness were found among them worthy of the patriarchal age.
They have indeed long since passed away, but they have left their impress upon the generations which have succeeded them. Forever honored be their names, forever cherished their memories ; not only by those who dwell on the spot planted by their hands, but by their numerous and wide- spread descendants ; of whom it may truly be said, "The glory of children is their fathers."
Many, indeed, of their descendants in the several profes- sions, and in the various walks of public and private life, have sustained characters of distinguished excellence, and filled some of the highest offices - literary, military, civil, and sacred -in the country. We can name those descend- ing from this company of emigrants, who have held seats in the American Congress, who have presided in our higher seminaries of learning, who have filled places in our State council and senate, who have signalized themselves by mili- tary achievements, who have sustained the chief magistracy of the Commonwealth, and who have been distinguished as ministers of the gospel.
The growth of the settlement was very rapid, and the early settlers received frequent accessions to their number. Their fellow-countrymen, then in America, flocked to join them, while emigrants from Ireland, on their arrival in New England, mostly sought a residence in the colony here es- tablished; so that, as we have seen, the number of families increased in a few months from sixteen to seventy, and the population continued to augment in such a degree, that, at its incorporation, three years after its commencement, the sev- eral lots into which the town had been divided, were mostly
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HISTORY OF LONDONDERRY.
taken up, and families planted throughout its various sec- tions.
Although they did not at first obtain an act of incorporation as a township, yet, receiving the protection of government, and the benefits of law, they proceeded to organize them- selves into a civil community, and to appoint suitable officers for the due management of its concerns, and the promotion of its interests. Their first regular meeting for the transac- tion of town business, was held November 9, 1719.
" The town voated Mr. James McKeen for Moderator. On the said day, was voated for Town Clerk, John Goffe."
" At an adjourned meeting, November 20th, 1719.
" The Town voated, that seven men should be chosen as a committee for the managing of the publick affairs of this town, and the names of the members are as followeth : David Cargil, James McKeen, James Gregg, Robart Wier, John Morison, Samuel Graves, and John Goffe."
This committee, in the laying out and disposal of the lots, agreed that the first settlers, to the number of twenty, should each have an additional lot to dispose of to any person whom they should see cause to settle on it. This act of the committee occasioned much dissatisfaction .* The town, at a meeting in July, 1720, " Voted to refer the whole matter to the Gen- eral Court, at their next session at the Bank," that is, Ports- mouth, that place being originally called Strawberry Bank.
In October following, Lieutenant-governor Wentworth visited the town for the purpose of adjusting this and other difficulties. He ordered that " Ensign Blair, John MacNeil, and Hugh Montgomery, should be joined to the committee in the management of the public affairs of the town ;" and it
* From this vote it appears, that although but sixteen families first took possession of the ground selected for a settlement, they were very soon joined by four others, making the twenty who claimed and received these additional lots as the first settlers, namely, John Gregg, John Goffe, Elias Keyes, and Joseph Simonds.
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was ordered by the governor, that they should have full powers to lay out the highways in this town, " the wayes to be laid out, not to be under four rods wide." This direction was, however, very generally neglected, so that most of the roads were not more than two rods wide.
Such was the regard of this people to the institutions of the gospel, that they no sooner obtained a title to the soil, and were organized into a township, than they began, notwith- standing their embarrassed circumstances, to make arrange- ments for the erection of a house of worship, in order to the more convenient enjoyment of Christian privileges. We find in the town records the following minutes in regard to its erection.
At a general town meeting, June 3, 1720, " On the day above said, the Town voated that their shall be a small house built that may be convenient for the inhabitants to meet in for the worship of God, and that it shall be built as sune as it can with conveniency ; allso that the house shall be built as near the senter of the one hundred and five lots, as can be with conveneance."
At a general town meeting, June 29, 1720, " The town then voated that the meeting-house shall be built within seven rhods of a black stake set up either upon or near unto Mr. McGregor's lott."
" January ye 11th, 1720-21. At a general Town meeting it was voated, that a meeting-house shall be built in this town as speedely as may be, and that the above said house shall be fifty feet in length, forty five feet broad, and so high as may be conveneant for one set of galeryes." "On the day aforesaid, voated that two men be chosen as a committee to agree with the carpenter, and other affairs relaiting to said house. The members chosen for said committe are Mr. James McKeen, and Mr. Samuel More."
The house was raised and finished the following year ; and thus, in a little more than two years from their settlement
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here in the wilderness, they dedicated to the service of God a convenient and well-finished house of worship, while they constructed their own houses of logs ; regarding not, as many do, their own private gratification and convenience, to the neglect of the divine honor and the interests of the soul, - " dwelling in their own ceiled houses, while the house of God is neglected."
In this undertaking, attended as it must have been at that early period with very considerable expense, on account of the difficulty of obtaining the requisite materials, they were kindly aided by Governor Wentworth, and other benev- olent gentlemen in and near Portsmouth.
The house of worship thus erected, was situated a few feet north of the spot occupied by the present house. A more pleasant and favorable location could not have been selected within the limits of their township. In this house they con- tinued to worship nearly fifty years, until 1769, when a new, more capacious, and better finished one was erected.
The men who laid the foundation of this community were mindful, not only of the religious interests of themselves and families, but also of the means of education. In 1723, a schoolhouse was built upon the Common, near the meeting- house. It was of logs, and but sixteen feet long and twelve wide. In this humble building commenced the education of those who were, in after years, distinguished for their attain- ments and usefulness. In 1725, only six years after their settlement, it was " Voted in town meeting, that there should be a school in each quarter of the town six months in a year, if suitable instructors could be procured."*
* The following are the names of some of the early school-teachers employed in the town, namely, Robert Morrison, Eleanor Aiken, John Barnett, W. Harvey, and Archibald Wier were employed in 1725; John Wilson, William Wallace, Ezekiel Steele, and - Morton, in 1733; Thomas Boyes, Francis Bryan, and - Goodall in 1735; Matthew Campbell, Thomas Bacon, William McNeil, and John
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CIVIL HISTORY.
In this early and prompt attention to the means of educa- tion, we mark the wisdom and foresight of these men. They sought to found the prosperity of their community on the cultivation of the mind, as well as on the improvement of the heart. Knowledge, as well as piety, were in their view essential to the maintenance of civil and religious institutions, if not to the attainment of salvation. They had while in their native land given no countenance to the popish dogma, that ignorance is the mother of devotion. They were by no means an uninformed people. They were not only imbued early with religious truth, but favored with common school education, which was at that time more generally enjoyed in Scotland, and the north of Ireland, than in England. The great proportion of them could read and write, while a few were more highly educated. This early attention to educa- tion has not declined in the community they established. The regard which has been paid to learning by the inhabi- tants of Londonderry, appears from the literary institutions here established, and from the number and character of their educated men, who will be more particularly noticed here- after.
To meet the expenses of the settlement, it was voted in town meeting, March 25, 1721, that "all the lots in this town be rated thirty shillings per lott, from the first settle- ment thereof unto this present day."
As the lots assigned to the proprietors, by the men chosen to manage the prudential affairs of the town, were not of like value, considerable difficulty arose in equalizing the claims of the settlers. In order to an adjustment of these difficulties, and to secure to each an equivalent for any defect
Eayres in 1736; Mary McNeil, Daniel Todd, and William McNeil in 1737.
'The amount of money expended for schools in 1725, was £36, 4s. The amount assessed for ministers' rates in 1726, was £98, 12s. 1d. ; in 1727, it was £128, 16s. 5d.
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HISTORY OF LONDONDERRY.
in their respective lots, a, special committee was appointed, consisting of James Gregg, Samuel Graves, and Thomas Steele, and a vote passed, " that all persons that have a mind to complain of their lots may repair to the three men above named, paying them for their time ; they are by them to have their lots valued, and a recompense made them according to their want, provided they make their complaint by the 10th of May next ensuing, and no allowance after that time.".
Although, as a people, they valued the gospel, and readily made self-denying efforts for the support of its institutions, yet there were individuals at that early day, as there have been since, who were not disposed to pay their just propor- tion of the expense thus incurred. Hence, we find that at a meeting, January 22, 1721-2, " in order to take some proper methods for giting in the minister's salary, ordered that a list be drawn forth of the arrears, and the town clerk to annex a warrent thereto, in order to the constables distrain- ing those persons that neglect or refuse to pay their rates to the minister."
The following entry is upon their town book, and may serve to exhibit the character of their financial concerns : "The town of Nutfield has raised, this present year, 1721, by the committee, 15 shillings per lot, which amounts to £81, 0s, Od; and it has been disposed of in the following manner ; also, £15, 0, 0, received of Gilmore, for half a lot sold by ye town ; also, £5, 0, 0, received of the governor, of ye town's money, and £11 pounds due from Constable Wear to the town ; in all, £112, 0, 0."
In the disbursement of this sum, as specified in the town accounts, we find the following items : -
" To Alexander Nicols, for his going down for the elements of the sacrament, . £0,10,0
"To James McNeel, for going to the Bank (i. e. Portsmouth) on the town business, 1, 5,0
" To Arch. Clendenen, for work at Mr. McGregor's, 1, 1, 0
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" To Robert Wear, for carrying the prisoners to the Bank, calling the court, a constable. staff and charges at Chester,
2, 8,0
" For the charges of the prisoners at his house, 0, 4, 6
"To Mr. McKeen, when he went to the Sessions at the Bank, when he got the promise of a gift to the town towards the building of the meeting- house, 0,19, 6
"To Mr. McGregor and Mr. McKeen, when they went to Governor Usher, 0, 10,9
"To Daniel McFee, for going to the Bank with the prisoners, and making the town stock of bullits,
0, 14, 0
" To James Alexander, for lead, 0, 2,0
"To James McNeel, for going to the Bank for the money the gentlemen at the Bank promised to bestow on the town, towards building the meet- ing-house, 2, 10,0
" To the Commissioners that go to the Bank on account of the town grant or charter, 0, 7,0."
The following. entry may also show the simplicity and economy of those times, in regard to public expenses. " At a general town meeting, January ye 19, 1719, the town voted, that seven men should be chosen as a committee for the viewing and laying out of lots and meadows; and that the above committee shall have four shillings per day for their work."
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