USA > New Hampshire > Rockingham County > Derry > The history of Londonderry : comprising the towns of Derry and Londonderry, N.H. > Part 9
USA > New Hampshire > Rockingham County > Londonderry > The history of Londonderry : comprising the towns of Derry and Londonderry, N.H. > Part 9
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Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31
In connection with these more formal assaults, they were frequently harassed by intruders who attempted to mow their meadows, on which they mainly depended for the sup- port of their cattle during the earlier years of the settlement.
Such intruders were not unfrequently taken by them, and detained as prisoners, until satisfaction was rendered by them, or their friends. We find in the town accounts during these
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years, frequent charges by individuals " for guarding pris- oners." Sometimes an inhabitant of the town, when employed in these meadows, would be seized and carried away by individuals from abroad, who laid in wait for the purpose. Thus a Mr. Christie, while mowing in a meadow, was seized and carried to Haverhill, without being allowed to apprize his family of his situation. The next day some of his apparel was found in the meadow where he had been at work, and he was at length discovered and rescued.
It also appears that civil processes were commenced and carried on before the courts in Massachusetts, as they held their sessions, at Newburyport and Ipswich, and that certain individuals were actually committed to prison under the arrests which were made by the claimants in that province. We find frequent charges made for attendance at court at Ipswich, also a vote of the town to pay the expenses of the individuals imprisoned, and to perform for them the necessary work required on their farms during their imprisonment.
In June, 1722, three years after the commencement of their settlement, the tract of land which they had selected, and which heretofore had been called Nutfield, was incorpo- rated as a township by the name of Londonderry, in com- memoration of the city in and near to which most of them had resided in their native land.
The charter conveyed to the proprietors, whose names were annexed, amounting at that early day to more than an hundred, in the name of George the Third, a tract of land ten miles square and duly bounded, and that the same be a town incorporate, by the name of Londonderry ; to have and to hold the said land, to the grantees, their heirs and assigns, upon the following conditions, viz : -
" That the proprietors of every share, build a dwelling- house within three years, and settle a family therein ; and that he break up three acres of land, and plant and sow the same within four years, and pay his or their proportion of the
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town charges, when and so often as occasion shall require the same; that a meeting-house shall be built in four years ; that upon the default of any particular proprietor in comply- ing with the condition of this charter on his part, such delinquent proprietor shall forfeit his share to the other proprietors, to be disposed of by vote of the major part of the proprietors ; the said men and inhabitants rendering and paying for the same to us and to our successors, or to such officer or officers as shall be appointed to receive the same, the annual quit-rent, or acknowledgment, of one peck of potatoes, on the first day of October, yearly, forever ; reserving, also, to our heirs and successors, all mast-trees growing on said tract of Londonderry." After making
provision for an annual town-meeting, the charter further enacts, " that on every Wednesday in the week forever, they may hold, keep, and enjoy, a market for the buying and selling of goods, wares, and merchandise, and various kinds of creatures, endowed with the usual privileges, profits, and immunities as other market towns fully hold, possess, and enjoy, and two Fairs annually, forever ; the first to be held and kept within the said town on the eighth day of November next, and so annually, forever ; the other on the eighth day of May, in like manner. Provided, if it should so happen, that at any time either of these days fall on the Lord's day, then the said Fair shall be held and kept the day following it. The said Fair shall have, hold, and enjoy the liberties, priv- ileges, and immunities as other Fairs in other towns, fully possess, hold, and enjoy."*
The conditions specified in this charter, serve to throw light on the state of our civil communities at that time, and the origin of some practices which prevailed until a recent date in this town. The annual payment of the peck of pota- toes, and the reservation of the noblest trees in our forests,
* See Appendix.
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was an acknowledgment of the dependence of these prov- inces upon the mother country : all grants of lands and privileges were from the crown, and conferred by govern- ments acting under its appointment and authority.
In the reign of William, a surveyor of the woods was appointed, and acts were passed by order of the king, in the several provinces, for the preservation of the white pines. In 1708, a law, made in New Hampshire, prohibited the cutting of such as were twenty-four inches in diameter at twelve inches from the ground, without leave of the surveyor, who was instructed to "mark with the broad arrow, those which be fit for the use of the navy, and to keep a register of them." From these, and similar restrictions upon their freedom and independence, the fathers of the Revolution sought to free themselves, and their posterity ; and by their valor and sufferings, they obtained, and conferred on us, the rich inheritance which we now enjoy.
We have here, also, the origin of those annual Fairs, for which the town became distinguished, and which were continued until within a few years. The original design of the Fair was good, and for some years it was of public use and convenience, affording an opportunity to the inhab- itants of this, and the adjoining towns, to meet and exchange commodities. It was conducted with order and propriety. The assemblage was usually large; merchants from Haverhill, Salem, and even Boston, were present with goods; and every variety of home manufacture was here collected. The Common was usually surrounded with tents containing merchandise, and with pens of cattle, sheep, and swine, for sale or exchange.
The state of society at length changing, the country be- coming generally settled, stores being multiplied, and the means of communication with our large towns greatly im- proved, the Fair became of little or no use, was soon per- verted from its original design, and for many years proved a
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moral nuisance, attracting chiefly the more corrupt portion of the community, and exhibiting for successive days, each year, scenes of vice and folly in some of their worst forms.
Attempts were consequently made by the town, from time to time, to regulate the Fair, and thus correct the evil, but with little success.
At their annual meeting in 1798, the following resolution and vote were passed by the town : -
" From the misconduct and disorderly behaviour of most of the people which frequent the Fair, as now holden, the good intention and original design are altogether defeated ; whereupon enacted, that it shall be confined to two days, one day each Spring and Fall, the 19th of May and 19th of October, when they do not occur on the Sabbath.
" Voted, also, that no booth shall be used after 9 o'clock in the evening of said days, for selling merchandise or liquor, or furnishing any kind of entertainment, without forfeiting and paying a fine of one pound."
Its final suppression was the result of the temperance reformation, as it here prevailed. In 1839, the only public house in the village, where the Fair had from the first been held, became a strictly temperance tavern ; the bar was removed, and no intoxicating drinks were to be obtained in the place. A number of persons on assembling at the usual time, and finding this to be the case, at once withdrew, and no traces of the Fair remain in Derry, where for more than a century it had been observed .*
The settlement being incorporated, and exercising town government, many judicious regulations were introduced and adopted, for its improvement and good order.
The settlers were now in a situation to enjoy civil and religious privileges, which they had never before pos-
* At the session of the Legislature, in June of the present year (1850), that part of the charter of the town authorizing the holding of Fairs, was repealed.
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sessed; and, although inexperienced in the management of such corporations, yet having at the head of their affairs men of sound judgment and of religious integrity, the gov- ernment was efficient and liberal.
These corporate townships, as may here be observed, are a peculiar feature in our government, and are indeed essen- tial to the existence and preservation of free institutions. They sprang, as has been supposed, from the form of church discipline, originally introduced into New England, and in this, as well as other instances, we may see how much we are indebted to the Puritans, not only for the substance, but even the form of our political and civil freedom ..
The origin of town organizations was not derived from the authority of the general court, but from the necessity of the case, and the circumstances in which the people were placed. Their foundation was in the voluntary, though tacit compact of the proprietors and settlers of the different towns. They were associations, in character, like that entered into by the Plymouth Pilgrims before they disembarked. Settle- ments being made in different places, some plan must be adopted for the orderly management of their affairs. Taxes must be levied, lots of land must be granted, highways laid out, and meetings of the freemen must be had, to make orders, to appoint subordinate officers, and provide for their security and general interests.
It was therefore necessary that some form of town govern- ment should be established. The inhabitants at first chose several of their principal proprietors to manage the affairs of the town, who were then styled townsmen. Some years afterwards the number being reduced, and it becoming cus- tomary to select three or five only for this purpose, they were called selectmen. To these men were intrusted the principal concerns of the town. Their proceedings, in the management of its affairs, were annually brought before a meeting of the town for confirmation.
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As the settlements advanced, and new regulations became necessary, statutes were made by the several provincial governments, with permission of the crown, granting or recognizing the rights and privileges of towns, and these corporations became essential parts of the machinery of the colonial, as they have since been of the State governments. Other officers were added from time to time, as assessors, overseers, surveyors, etc., who were annually elected at the town-meeting usually held in March.
The people have always been ardently attached to these little republics. They have guarded and watched their rights with the utmost jealousy. The history of these little municipalities, scattered over and covering the surface of New England, is closely interwoven with that of our country. The Revolution, it is believed, would never have been achieved without them, nor would our liberties be long secure. These townships being composed entirely of the citizens, without any distinction as to rank, property, or outward appendage whatever, contain in themselves all the elements of a pure- democracy. "They are the schools," as one remarks, "in which young men are educated for higher offices, and in which all may be taught their duty as citizens. But the great purpose which they answer, is, that they serve as a barrier against the encroachments of the State and federal governments." One great danger in every government, is the centralization of power, a power controlling not only what relates to the whole State or Union, as the revenue and post-office and military department, but those of a more local character, as is the case in all despotic and many of the monarchical governments.
" To prevent this dangerous result, we have, in the first place, our State governments, and then, what is of far greater importance, our town governments, which hold in their hands more than nine-tenths of the real power, which, so far as they are concerned, belongs to government."
6*
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HISTORY OF LONDONDERRY.
A large proportion of the real effective legislation, under our government, is performed by the towns. They raise the taxes, support the schools, roads, and bridges, provide for the poor, and direct in whatever pertains to their local inter- ests, as well as to the general welfare.
Thus admirably adapted to the security and prosperity of a community, is the simple machinery of town government. Under this, Londonderry, like other New England towns, has grown up to its present condition, not only sending fortlı colonies for the commencement of other settlements in dif- ferent parts of the land, but becoming itself two large and prosperous towns.
The description, drawn by Dr. Belknap, the historian, of a desirable town community, has in many, if not all the points, been realized in the towns which have arisen from the early settlement of Londonderry.
" A town consisting of a due mixture of hills, valleys, and streams of water; the land well fenced and cultivated; the roads and bridges in good repair; decent inns for the refreshment of travellers, and for public entertainment. The inhabitants mostly husbandmen ; their wives and daughters domestic manufacturers ; a suitable proportion of handicraft workmen, and two or three traders; a physician and a lawyer; a clergyman of good understanding, candid dispo- sition, and exemplary morals, - not a metaphysical, nor a polemic, but a serious, practical preacher. A schoolmaster, who should understand his business, and teach his pupils to govern themselves. A social library, annually increasing, and under good regulations; a decent musical society ; no intriguing politician, horsejockey, gambler, or sot. Such a situation may be considered as the most favorable to local happiness of any which this world can afford."
May these towns, in their future character and situation, realize still more fully the picture here presented, and, blend- ing the glory of the children with that of the fathers, enlighten the dark vista of future years, till time shall be no more.
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CHAPTER III.
TRAITS IN THE CHARACTER OF THE EARLY SETTLERS - MARRIAGE CEREMONIES, WAKES, AND FUNERALS - DIVERSIONS -ERECTION OF A MEETING-HOUSE - SCHOOLS -EXTRACTS FROM THE OLD TOWN RECORDS - DWELLING-HOUSES -INCORPORATION OF THE WEST PARISH - NOTICES OF JOHN AND JAMES PINKERTON - INCORPORATION OF WINDHAM AND DERRYFIELD -OLD FRENCH WAR-EMIGRATIONS FROM THE TOWN - PATRIOTIC ZEAL OF THE INHABITANTS DURING THE WAR OF THE REVOLUTION - REBELLION OF 1786-THE TWO VILLAGES - PINKERTON ACAD- EMY - ADAMS FEMALE ACADEMY - DIVISION OF THE TOWN - EMIGRATIONS OF ENGLISH FAMILIES INTO THE TOWN.
THE early settlers of New Hampshire may be divided into four classes ; those on the Piscataqua, who came into the State for the purpose of fishing and trading ; the Scotch settlers at Londonderry ; emigrants from Massachusetts, who established themselves on the Merrimack and its tribu- taries ; and those who came from Connecticut, and planted themselves on the Connecticut river.
Each of these divisions of the population, is said to retain and exhibit at the present time certain peculiarities, intellec- tual, moral, social, and political, which were characteristic of the original settlers. This is strikingly the case in regard to the Scotch-Irish settlers. The national traits which characterized this company of emigrants, were deeply and strongly marked. They, and their immediate successors, have passed away, but they have left their impress upon the generations which have succeeded them. Owing to the difference in their language, habits, and modes of life, from those of their English neighbors, prejudices were early imbibed, and unreasonably indulged, against these settlers, and many things in their manners and practices were grossly
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misrepresented, and falsely reported and believed. Some of the inhabitants of the adjoining towns, not understanding their true origin and character, but supposing that, as they came from Ireland, they were of the native Catholic Irish, were greatly alarmed, and were anxious to have them removed from their immediate vicinity, if not expelled from the country.
Although they came to this land from Ireland, where their ancestors had a century before planted themselves, yet they retained unmixed the national Scotch character. Noth- ing sooner offended them, than to be called Irish. Their antipathy to this appellation had its origin in the hostility existing in Ireland between the Celtic race, the native Irish, and the English and Scotch colonists, adverted to in a former chapter.
Mr. Belknap quotes from a letter of Rev. James Mac- Gregor to Governor Shute, in which he says, "We are surprised to hear ourselves termed Irish people, when we so frequently ventured our all, for the British crown and liberties, against the Irish Papists, and gave all tests of our loyalty which the government of Ireland required, and are always ready to do the same when required."
Between the native Irish and the Scotch, who removed to Ireland, there was almost as great a difference in re- ligion, morals, intelligence, and language, as exists between them and the English. Although the Scotch as a nation are plain, frugal, frank, and somewhat rough, yet they pos- sess a greater vivacity and quickness of parts, propensities more social, and stronger sensibilities of all kinds than their southern neighbors. They have ever been distinguished for their hospitality, their valor, firmness, and fidelity. No people display more faithful and affectionate attachment to those who have conciliated their good-will ; and few nations have given more undeniable proofs of genius in scientific and literary pur- suits, or have, throughout past ages, sustained a higher degree
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of moral and political respectability. This may be truly said of those who constituted the settlement of Londonderry, and their numerous descendants ; and here no apology will be necessary for introducing, with the permission of the author, the concise but just view of the prominent traits in their character, as given by a descendant* of these emigrants, on a public occasion. Speaking of an interesting branch of this colony, he says : "But while the intellect of our people is shown in the number and character of educated men that have gone from among them, it is shown still more in their general character. I might select many among those whom I have personally known, who, if not polished so as to bring out all the shades and rich veins of intellect, have yet been sufficiently cultivated to show minds capable of grasping strong thoughts, and acting upon the most important inter- ests of public and private life."
" The next remarkable feature has been courage. It was shown by our fathers in Ireland, and has not deserted their sons. As a people, they have never shrunk from peril. At the first sound of danger, their custom has been to fly to the scene of action. So was it in the Indian and French wars. So was it after the news of the battle of Lexington. Many instances might be adduced, which would serve to illustrate the courage which has been always a prominent feature in their character, distinguishing alike their habits of thought, of social intercourse, of public and private enterprise. In whatever they have undertaken, they have gone forward with the same fearless spirit.
" If at any time a man has had hard thoughts of his neighbor, he did not whisper it about in private scandal, but the offender was the first to hear it ; there was no secret, underhand dealing, but their voices were always loud, their gait erect, their conduct open.
* Rev. J. H. Morison, of Milton, Mass.
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" While ready to maintain thier own and their neighbor's rights, they have also, it must be acknowledged, never been backward in proclaiming their own merits ; yet they have not been a conceited, boasting race, but men who knew their strength, who judged correctly of their merits, and would not suffer others to destroy or impair their just appreciation.
" Closely allied to this, was another prominent trait in their character. They were always a high-minded, generous people. Though poor, they were never mean in spirit. Some- times, indeed, a foolish pride has been among them. It is related of the wife of the oldest John Morison, that when her husband was building his first habitation in Londonderry, she came to him, and in a manner unusually affectionate, said, 'Aweel, aweel, dear Joan, an it maun be a log-house, do make it a log heegher nor the lave,' - (than the rest.)"
" But if they have had a little sprinkling of this spirit, they have also been marked by a true loftiness and gen- erosity of soul, which, in all their trials, has not forsaken them. It mingled with their courage in war, and guided their intelligence in politics." " In their influence, great or small, in high or in low stations, upon the councils of the state or nation, this people, as a body, have always been on the side of a liberal, generous policy, whatever might be its effect upon their private interests.
" Another prominent trait of character, was their ready wit. No subject was kept sacred from it ; the thoughtless and the grave, the old and the young, alike enjoyed it. Our fathers were serious, thoughtful men, but they lost no occasion which might promise sport. Weddings, huskings, log-rollings, and raisings, what a host of queer stories is connected with them! Our ancestors dearly loved fun; there was a grotesque humor, and yet a seriousness, pathos, and strangeness about them, which in its way has perhaps never been excelled. It was the sternness of the Scotch Covenanter softened by a century's residence abroad, amid persecution and trial, wed-
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ded there to the comic humor and pathos of the Irish, and then grown wild in the woods, among these our New England mountains. I see in them, and their genuine descendants, the product of the heaths and highlands of Scotland, with their border wars; of the rich low fields of Ireland, with their mirth and clubs, modified afresh by the hardships of a new settlement, and the growing influence of a free country."
These traits of character, manifest as they were in that portion of the early settlers and their descendants to whom these remarks were directly addressed, belonged, with little modification, to the whole company of emigrants, and to the several colonies which went out from them. But the trait most distinguishing their character, and most valuable in its influence, was their steadfast adherence to enlightened reli- gious principle, and to all the forms and duties of devotion. " They were a devout, religious people. With their Pres- byterian predilections, confirmed by the inhuman massacres, extortions, and wars through which they had passed, their first object in settling here was that they might be free in their religious faith." And no sooner were they formed into a community, than, as we have seen, they organized a church, settled a pastor, and commenced and maintained under many disadvantages the public services of religion. In all their rude dwellings, the morning and evening sacrifice of prayer and praise was regularly offered, and the Scriptures devoutly read. The omission of such daily acts of devotion, in a single family, would, for some years after their settlement, have excited alarm, and called for examination. The fol- lowing fact may serve as an illustration of the general feeling which thus pervaded the community.
The venerable pastor, being one evening informed that an individual was becoming neglectful of family worship, imme- diately repaired to his dwelling; the family had retired ; he called up the man, and inquired if the report was true, and whether he had omitted family devotion that evening. On
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his admitting the fact, his faithful pastor, having duly admon- ished him of his fault, refused to leave his house until he had kneeled with his partner, and offered up prayer to God.
Not only the shorter, but the larger catechism of the Presbyterian church, was regularly committed and recited by all, both parents and children. For nearly a century, the practice of annual family catechizing was strictly ob- served in the town. Families to the number of eight or ten, assembled according to appointment, at some dwelling in their respective neighborhoods ; here the pastor met them, and, commencing with the younger, and proceeding to the elder classes, he carefully examined each individual, as to his knowledge of this summary of Christian faith and duty.
Not only was the answer to the question proposed expect- ed, but some, if not all, of the Scripture proofs annexed, were required. By means of this catechetical instruction, with their habitual attendance upon divine ordinances, and their devout readings of the Scriptures, and some of the best standard authors in divinity of the seventeenth century, they became firmly established in the great and essential truths of revelation, and were well fortified against the encroach- ments of error. As an illustration of this, and of the happy effect of such religious training, is the fact, that, for an hundred years after its settlement, no religious meeting was held, or sermon preached, in this town, except by a Presby- terian or Congregational minister. The practice of thus assembling by families was laid aside, in consequence, mainly, of the emigration to the town of those who had not been thus trained, and were, consequently, unprepared for such an exercise, and the recitations of the catechism were at length confined exclusively to children and youth, either at their dwellings, when visited by the pastor, or at the schoolroom, - they being long regarded by this people, and by the inhabitants of New England in general, indispensable at school, as a weekly exercise at least.
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