USA > New Hampshire > Strafford County > New Durham > The history of New Durham, New Hampshire: from the first settlement to the present time > Part 7
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Tuttle, Joseph, 35, Aug. '62, Killed June 3, '63 at Cold Harbor, Va .; Wentworth, Jacob S., 23, Aug. '62, Killed May 3, '63 at Chancellors- ville, Va .; * Willey, Alfred S., 44, Sept. '61; * Willey, Bartholomew, 24, Sept. '61; * Willey, Elijah, 20, Dec. '61; * Willey, Reuel W., 35, Aug. '62; Young, Joseph D., 26, Aug. '61, Died of disease June 13, '62; Young, Thomas, 28, Aug. '62, Died of wounds Oct. 23, '64; York, Arthur, 28, Aug. '62, Died of disease Jan. 12, '63.
** More names of New Durham men who served in this war:
W. A. Labounty, J. Hill, B. F. Blaisdell, J. Willey, H. S. Went- worth, J. S. Ricker, A. Wentworth, J. W. Bradbury, N. Boston, W. Jones, A. Parris, C. L. Pinkham, F. B. Evans, S. Rogers, G. K. Ricker, T. Rogers, W. J. Stowell, A. E. H. Ham, J. A. Raymond, J. F. Twombley, J. A. Willey, D. J. Pinkham, J. G. Aspinall, G. D. Richards, O. B. Coburn.
Names of Drafted Men
A. W. Downing, C. W. Willard, C. A. Berry, H. A. Jenkins, T. W. Perkins, J. W. Durgin, H. G. Chamberlain, B. S. Grace, H. Corson, E. H. Evans, C. H. Boodey, T. W. Coburn, C. Brooks.
Names of Men Who Enlisted to Fill New Durham's Quota:
D. McMahan, T. Connell, M. Maloney, J. Smith, W. Smith, H. Aiken, J. Maloney, J. Rindon, I. Mingo, J. L. Blanch, W. McRee, H. Smith, E. Thomas, P. Verlin, J. Gallighan, M. Daily, T. Butter, A. A. Davis, C. Hull, J. Franklin.
Many of the names above were foreign-born, some of whom changed their names on arrival in this country. H. Smith, for in- stance, was born in Germany.
** Taken from a published town report for the years 1861, '62, '63, '64, and '65.
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.-
Ett
Home of John Davis in 1787. This house was on the "ministry lot # 9" and was probably built for Rev. John Addams who came with the first settlers. Now the home of Mr. John Barnet, Jr.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN 1870-1960
The conflict between the States left New England much as she had been before. No battles had been fought here and industry was flourishing in the cities and larger towns. Except for the sadness of mourning their dead, the people of New England were reasonably well off.
New Durham was primarily a farming and lumbering com- munity. The Powder Mills and Downing's lumber mills employed a goodly number of men, but the local industries were, for the most part, small mills which were family-owned and family-run. A man with no particular ambition for material or educational advantages for his family could make a decent living.
In Farmington, Rochester and Dover, industry was mush- rooming. The manufacture of shoes had begun around 1850 - in the 1860's and '70's, plants were springing up on every available corner. These factories employed women as well as men, and the lure of cash payment for a week's work, in place of the dubious satisfactions of farming and housework took an increasing number from our population. Not only were the young people drawn away but the older folk as well, for they wanted to retire where they could be with their families and friends.
In these years many fine old homes in New Durham were abandoned. It was not until the 1930's and '40's, when the urge to retire to the country affected so many urban dwellers, that many of these homes were bought and restored to usefulness and beauty.
Our town was not wholly abandoned, however. Frankin W. Coburn, a native of Pelham, New Hampshire, after serving an ap- prenticeship, erected a factory in 1855 on the Birch Hill road and began the manufacture of knives, shoe staves and cutlery. His sons Alonzo G. and Franklin W., Jr., went into their father's business about twenty years later.
The Coburns moved their operations to Haverhill, Massachu- setts around 1880, and it was there that the Hayes brothers, Seth W., George and Augustus learned the business of knife manufac- turing. Returning to town a few years later, they built a factory on the Merrymeeting road and made knives of superior quality for many years. Some of this cutlery, the edges sharp and true, are still in use in local kitchens and are much preferred to those of modern manufacture.
Edward E. Rice, founder of the Rice Manufacturing Co., came to New Durham in 1881. In his mill at the corner of the Bay and Merrymeeting roads, he made hogshead stock; later, wire brushes
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and wooden handles. Subsequent owners of this mill were the Osborn Manufacturing Co., Mr. Joseph Berry and Mr. W. Dean Allen. It was during the latter's ownership that the mill was totally destroyed by fire.
With the country-wide invention and development of machinery, which resulted in mass-produced articles to fill almost every need, the arts and crafts of the home and workshop almost completely disappeared. No longer were furniture, cloth, clothing or shoes carefully fashioned by hand. Mr. Howe's sewing machine even made hand sewing obsolete! Persevering machinists were trying to de- velop a motor to run a horseless carriage, which was a foolish idea, of course.
The New England housewife liked the new products. Relegated to the attic were the ladderback and Windsor chairs, cherry bureaus, blue Staffordshire and the pewter plates. Stuffed "easy" chairs, corner "what-nots", marble-topped furniture and Haviland china took their place. Chairs dripped "antimacassars", every home boasted a rubber plant, and Father bought a barrel-full of pressed glass for Mother's Christmas present. (He paid about ten dollars for it, incidentally) Currier and Ives prints were framed and hung on the walls, to look down on the "Rogers Group" on the lace- covered table below.
Mother did not knit heavy stockings for the family any more. She had a "hired girl" for a dollar or two a week, and spent her lei- sure time doing embroidery, or crocheting miles of edgings for pillow slips, towels and underwear. She painted china, or water colors, and put bits of silk together with various stitches for a "crazy quilt".
With all of this genteel frivolity, however, she ran her home with economy, even frugality; preserved hundreds of jars of fruit, vegetables, pickles, jellies and jams every summer, swept and scoured every inch of her house twice a year and was a faithful member of the Ladies' Aid.
Around the turn of the century, the annual celebration of "Old Home Day" was commenced. What a joyous occasion it was! Former residents returned to mingle with families and friends, to swap news, show off the new babies, argue about politics, and shake their heads over the newest crazes. A horseless carriage was ridicu- lous enough, but some men claimed that they would be flying through the air one of these days!
The day usually began with the raising of the flag in mid- morning, followed by contests and games. Sometimes a big dinner was served at long tables in the Grange hall; sometimes they had a basket picnic out of doors. The afternoon was spent listening to music, a prayer or two, "declamations" and "appropriate remarks by prominent speakers." But the best part of all was the visit back home.
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Rev. Joseph F. Joy was the head of the committee in 1904 and '05; some of those who assisted him were Miss Georgia O. Berry, John Dore, Joseph E. Berry, Charles Evans, E. K. Amazeen, J. B. Chamberlin, Mrs. Franklin W. Coburn, Mrs. Leslie W. Ricker and Mrs. Walter H. Miller.
In 1902, the annual report of the School board, submitted by Dyer M. Phillips, Leslie M. Ricker and Shem C. Wentworth, con- tained this advice, as pertinent today as it was 60 years ago: "Home discipline is essential if we want good school discipline . .. The welfare of our town in the years to come will depend largely on our children and their education ... If we want good citizens, if we want good town government in later years, we must educate our children."
In the annual school report for 1906, the School board, John B. Chamberlin, Lillie M. Bickford and Mary J. Young, stated, in regard to teachers: " ... we realize however that we cannot retain a successful woman for the inadequate salaries paid in town. We cannot expect a woman to teach in a town paying $6.50 to $7.50 for 24 weeks in a year when she can obtain $8.00 to $9.00 per week for 34 to 36 weeks in the year. She will most certainly choose the latter."
By this time, the original 14 district schools had dwindled to seven: South, Ridge, Plains, Corner, Center, Powder Works and Caverly. The school budget was around $1,000 in these years. Out of this the town paid the teachers' board and salaries, school sup- plies (which were not lavish) painting, cleaning and repairing the buildings, and wood for the stoves. The town stayed within the budget, too, closing the schools if necessary to halt further ex- penditure.
In 1902, two citizens of North Barnstead tried an ingenious experiment which turned out to be very successful. Albion N. Foss and Russell Garney, living about four miles apart, strung up some telephone wire on trees and posts between their houses and had a lot of fun with their private telephone line. Neighbors and friends for miles around were so impressed with this accomplishment that they did something about it; on February 3, 1903, a group of men and women from Barnstead, Alton and New Durham met in Barn- stead and formed the "Union Telephone Company." They elected Charles E. Rand president; William H. Berry, vice-president and Augustus J. Chamberlin secretary and treasurer. The Directors were Charles E. Rand, Arthur T. Pendergast, William H. Berry, Charles W. Evans, Irving S. Chamberlin, Velzora Deland and Sam- uel O. Joy. (Some of these people gave their addresses as "Dexter" - this was the section in the southernmost peak of the town of New Durham. It had a post office, too.)
In March an estimate of expenses for running a telephone line from Barnstead Center to Farmington (14 miles) was presented as follows:
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14 miles second-hand wire, insulators and brackets for same 20 telephones @ $12.25 420 poles (30 to a mile) @ .50 Setting 420 poles
$140.00
245.00
210.00
70.00
$665.00
In April, the Selectmen of New Durham gave the company permission "to erect poles and string wires for a telephone line" within its boundaries. The first order for New Durham was for 12 telephones in August, 1903 and these were in the New Durham Ridge area. The workmen who dug the holes and set the poles were paid $1.50 per day.
The company was incorporated in June, 1903 and acquired a long list of stockholders. Later, in order to make long-distance calls, a switchboard was set up in Barnstead; Josie Foss, the man- ager, received $125.00 a year.
Consideration of extending the lines to Jones' Store, the main road and vicinity was undertaken in 1908; since that time, tele- phone lines have stretched far into the hills and valleys of our town, and telephone service has been recently expanded and im- proved with a modern dial system.
On February 6, 1908, the "New Town House" was dedicated. The exercises began at two o'clock with orchestral and choral music and with prayers by Rev. Joseph F. Joy. The formal pre- sentation was made by George H. Jones, chairman of the building committee, the response by Dana P. Jones, chairman of the Board of Selectmen. Walter H. Miller gave a historical sketch, Irving Ricker played a cornet solo, and there were addresses and remarks by Mr. and Mrs. Franklin W. Coburn, Rev. E. K. Amazeen, Frank R. Marston, H. G. Chamberlin, Zanello D. Berry, Willard M. March and others.
After supper, a four-act drama was enacted, called "Jack O' Diamonds". Taking part in this thriller were Gertrude E. Hawley, Edith A. Lambertson, Walter A. Lang, Grover C. Hayes, Joseph E. Berry, George D. Lambertson, Gustav Bernard, Eva Tonberg, George F. Bickford, Leslie W. Ricker and Marion Ricker.
The first automobile in New Durham was owned by George H. Jones, prominent citizen and lumber dealer, in May, 1907. He went to Massachusetts to purchase it and brought a mechanic back with him to teach him about its inner workings and how to drive it. It was a "Stanley Steamer", an open two-seater with a jump seat up front. We can well believe that it was the talk of the town! Mr. Jones' father, who might have been expected to disapprove of this revolutionary contraption, took a keen delight in it, however, and would hop in for a "spin" at every opportunity !
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Though owning and driving an automobile was an exciting experience to the men of that day, it was not without its hazards. There were few country mechanics who were familiar with the principles of automotive power, and a break-down might take weeks to repair. There was no such thing as a "gas station"; roads were of dirt and gravel and changing a blown-out tire took strength and time. But we venture to guess that in those days, hardly anything pleased the heart of a man more than his first automobile.
Electricity followed the telephone in our town. Oscar Duncan and his son Raymond Duncan of Alton brought the Alton Electric Light and Power Co. from Farmington through New Durham in the spring of 1912. About a dozen customers subscribed to the new service and had their homes wired for electricity. In the beginning this consisted of bare bulbs hanging from wires in the most im- portant rooms, for decorative lamps and useful appliances were yet to come. Needless to say, this service has also expanded and improved over the years and has done as much as anything else to raise the standard of living everywhere.
War broke out in Europe in 1914, a war "to make the world safe for democracy". The United States declared war on Germany on April 6, 1917. New Durham's population was under 500 now; the total number of men from this town who served with the American forces in this war was less than the number who fought in the Revolutionary war. Following are the names:
Harry Berry Ray Berry; died while in the service of his country.
Raymond Ricker Edgar Rohan
George Rohan
Joseph Buckingham George Deroy
Ulmer Royal
Daniel Harding
Charles Sebley, Jr. Daniel Sweeney
Maurice Hayes Frank Jones
George Thurston
Harry Jones
Walter Thurston
George Willey
Samuel Joy, Jr. Fred Lowell
Thomas Williamson
In 1919, it was voted by the town that the Selectmen, Dana P. Jones, Alberton N. Berry and Harry Bickford, "be instructed to purchase an Honor Roll in memory of our soldiers who served in the late War." This was done.
The Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, was the start of another devastating and tragic war. On the follow- ing list it will be noted that four New Durham young women volunteered to serve their country, as well as 47 men. Those starred died while in the service.
Eleanor F. Baxter Christina M. Berry
Abbot N. Hayes John W. Hayes
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Ernest Rollins
Elmer Berry
Cecil N. Laney
Robert W. Berry
Frank T. Laney George E. Laney, Jr.
Walter W. Burnett Roland H. Cathcart
Albert L. Langley Arthur D. Malone Curtis E. Meinelt Arthur Melanson
Lewis B. Chamberlin Nelson E. Chamberlin
John I. Chase
Harry W. Nutter
Richard F. Chase
Kenneth A. Perkins Dona Rand
Rubie Chase
Verne Chase
*William H. Rollins Albert C. Shaw
Victor Chase
Willis A. Corson
Francis L. Snow Alfred Smith
Harold E. Davoli
Wilbur J. Drew
Walter S. Thurston, Jr.
Arthur T. Emery
Frank W. Weibel
Catherine Emery
Harold G. Field
George H. Wentworth Lewis A. Wentworth, Jr.
Raymond H. Flint
Nelson E. Wentworth
Jasper Edward Flint
Robert F. Wentworth
Murray G. Flint
Roy M. Sheldon, Jr.
Rene J. Grenier
Neil Willett
*Robert W. Haller William L. Hanchett
Clarence R. York
Seventeen New Durham men and one woman served in the Korean "conflict", the latter attaining a most creditable record and a high rank, Major Elizabeth L. Lambertson. Following is the list:
Alvah A. Adams
Francis H. Laney
Kenneth N. Berry
Bruce R. Mills
Walter W. Burnett (missing in action)
Robert E. Dow
George R. Parsons
Francis E. Dyer, Jr.
Alfred W. Smith
Murray G. Flint
Calvin W. Thurston
Arthur A. Joy, Jr.
George H. Wentworth
Samuel O. Joy, III
Ralph N. Wentworth
Elizabeth L. Lambertson George D. Lambertson, Jr.
Frederick I. Wood, Jr.
The local Grange provided a memorial honoring those who served in World War II and Korea. A more lasting structure was needed, however, and in 1960, Marion M. Smith headed a com- mittee which arranged for a handsome and permanent memorial, a donation of the townspeople. On May 30, 1961, this Honor Roll was dedicated with memorable ceremonies.
Merrymeeting Lake, its unspoiled natural beauty unsurpassed in New England, has been developed in recent years as a popular summer resort. Five miles of road have been constructed on the southern shores, opening up many scenic locations for about 250
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George E. Bickford
cottages. This area, populated by many year-round residents as well, is continually growing, and offers excellent fishing, boating, and swimming in its crystal waters.
The old Bay road through New Durham will soon be by-passed by the wide highway of Route 11, which will afford the traveler smooth and speedy access to the Winnepesaukee and White Moun- tains regions. Many a small town has thus been relegated to ob- scurity on the map, but this is not a matter for great concern. The tranquility of green forests and cold streams; the pleasant sunny valleys and low-lying hills will always be here for those who find contentment in these gifts of Nature.
The pioneers who petitioned the Proprietors for a "grant of a township bounding upon Rochester head line and Barnstead" were sturdy and courageous men. Their hands were rough, they ate coarse food and dressed in animal skins and homespun. The Bible was the only book that many of them had ever known.
But who is to say that, as they paused to rest weary backs from felling trees or plowing the stubborn earth, they did not look across the forested valley toward the great White Hills, and think that it was a land of great beauty, this land that they had chosen?
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CHAPTER SEVENTEEN Some Early Families
The study of genealogy is fascinating, rewarding - and time- consuming. Would that we had time and space to trace back all of the early New Durham residents, to find where they originated, whom they married, where they lived, worked and raised their families.
This chapter, therefore, includes only brief outlines of some of the families not already described, whose names figure earliest and most frequently in the annals of the Town. The writer has more material on these families which she will gladly share with anyone who is interested.
BENNETT
John Bennett or Benrick was born in 1721 in Gloucester, Massachusetts, lived in Durham, moved to New Durham after 1762. His wife was Abigail Roberts. By 1770 he was settled on a piece of land (Lot # 5) on the north side of the New Durham Ridge road, had a house and family and had cleared or improved 20 acres of land. He served the town as tithingman, surveyer of highways, se- lectman and was moderator at the first town meeting to be held at the new Meeting House in 1772.
One of his sons, John, Jun., was selectman 18 years, moved to Portsmouth in 1815, and owned several hundred acres of land in town. He was married to Lydia Gage. Another son, Benjamin, mar- ried 1st) Elizabeth March, 2nd) Elizabeth Gage Bell, widow and sister of his brother's wife. He built a log house in 1773 in New Durham Gore, later framed his house right over the log structure and added a barn. After 1777, when the Gore set up its own gov- ernment apart from New Durham (before it was incorporated as Alton in 1796) there were many town meetings held at Benjamin's house.
The original road through New Durham bridged the river as it does today at "Merrymeeting corner", turned north for a short distance toward Merrymeeting Lake, then took a sharp turn west up over the hill running north of Benjamin Bennett's barn; from there it turned south, crossed the river and went on to Barnstead.
Benjamin Bennett's home has been owned by the Bennett family since he built it and is now the home of his great great- grandson, Maurice Bennett.
BERRY
In 1770 there were three families of this name in town. Ben- jamin Berrey, who had lot # 11; James Berrey, lot # 30 and
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Widow Mariam Berrey, lot # 64. At this time they each had a house and family. It is a family tradition that three brothers from Durham had explored the territory before the land granting and purchased the lots they wanted in the favored locations afterward.
Benjamin's great grandson was Ichabod P. Berry, who pur- chased the house at the junction of the Bay road and the road lead- ing to Middleton from David Steele in 1856, which is now the home of his granddaughter Mrs. Lua M. Pike and her husband, Cecil M. Pike. His grandsons were the late Myron and Izah P. Berry.
In 1773 James Berrey recorded in the town books the names and ages of his six children, - later added four more. Of the Widow Mariam we have no information.
Elder Nathaniel Berry, mentioned in another chapter, was not of this branch of the Berry family; neither was Col. Stephen Berry, whose son and grandson were tavern-keepers at New Durham cor- ner for many years.
All of the Berrys have consistently contributed their efforts in governing the town, serving in many offices and on many com- mittees, - from Benjamin Berry, who was Tithingman in 1765 and James, who was selectman in the same year, right down to the present time.
BICKFORD
There were four Bickfords, all from Durham who had land granted to them in 1750: Eleazer, lot # 27, his brother Joseph, lot # 36, John, lot #64, John Jun., (and Theodore Wille) who shared lot # 6. In 1770, Eleazer had given or sold his lot to his son Ebene- zer, Joseph had turned over his to his son Benjamin, and Ebenezer was clearing lot # 55. The others did not come until later.
In 1784, there were twelve Bickfords in town. There were many descendants of these families, but they died, moved away or "daughtered out"; in 1840 there were but three of this name left and by 1850, none.
In 1856 Charles Bickford moved here from Epsom; he married Nancy Downing, daughter of Samuel and Nancy (Willey) Down- ing. He was the great-grandfather of George and Robert Bickford. The old homestead, built originally by Samuel Willey, later owned by Downings and Bickfords, is now owned by Louis Holtzberger.
CHAMBERLAIN
It is a tradition in this family that two brothers came from Dover; one to settle in the Gore and one to settle in New Durham. In 1775, the town passed a vote concerning the minister, Rev. Nathaniel Porter: "that the inhabitants of the Gore are excepted in full with New Durham if they will join in settling the minister
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and in paying his salary for time to come ... " and it was stated that "Jacob Chamberlain, Timothy Davis and Ephraim Chamber- lain hath signed."
Lt. Ephraim Chamberlain was on the New Durham tax list in 1784; in 1806 there were four men listed: Penuel, Abraham, Isaac and Ebenezer.
Isaac Chamberlain, born in 1766, married Dorothy Buzzell in 1788; they lived on the south side of New Durham Ridge and had a family of nine children, including twins. He ran a saw mill until 1838.
Jacob Chamberlain of the Gore and his wife Alice had these children and possibly more: Paul, Joseph, Penuel, Jacob, Alice, William and John.
Penuel Chamberlain married Molly Rendal of Madbury in 1793 and was the great grandfather of the late John Chamberlain. The family homestead was on the cross road from New Durham corner to Birch Hill.
Ephraim Chamberlain was a selectman in 1818-1822, Eleazer D. Chamberlain was a selectman in 1824 and '25; was Post master in 1825, and had a tavern license during these years, being de- scribed thus: "E. D. Chamberlain, Esq., of New Durham, Trader".
DAVIS
In 1750 David Davis was granted Lot # 94 but there is no record as to what he did with it. In 1770 Timothy Davis listed two houses and two families on Lot # 19 in the Gore, with about 17 acres improved. In 1784 Solomon Davis and Elisha Davis became residents, and in 1806 there were nine men of that name here. In 1815 there were sixteen. Several of them had large land holdings.
Zebulon Davis, cordwainer, lived in Rochester in 1776 and moved to the Gore in 1784.
Samuel Davis had been a farmer in Kittery, Maine, serving at the harbor during the War of 1812. Soon after his marriage to Abigail Tibbetts, he moved to New Durham, acquired land on New Durham Ridge and raised a family of five children. His son Samuel, in order to acquire an education, began to work for wages at an early age. When only twelve years old, he was accustomed to driv- ing a team from New Durham to Portsmouth. His efforts made it possible for him to graduate from Gilmanton Academy.
John Davis recorded the births of his seven children in the Town book in 1807; in 1820 Winthrop Davis entered the names of his eight children and in 1830 Sirpless Davis recorded his family of seven. It is odd and regrettable that so many old birth records do not include the name of the mother who bore them!
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EDGERLY
The founder of this line in the new world was Thomas Edgerly who came from England to settle in Oyster River before 1665. His numerous descendants settled in Durham, Exeter, Alton, Wolfeboro, Farmington and New Durham.
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