USA > New Hampshire > Merrimack County > Salisbury > The history of Salisbury, New Hampshire, from date of settlement to the present time > Part 66
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28. Nathan, b. May 31, 1794. See.
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HISTORY OF SALISBURY
Children by second wife :
29. Lydia, m. Oren .Carr ; she d. in Salisbury.
30. Eliza, m. Jeremiah Sanborn, of Sutton. 31. Lucinda, m. Ezra Maloon. See.
(28) Nathan remained on the homestead ; d. March 24, 1871 ; m. (1) Mary Fellows, by whom he had four children, all dead ; m. (2) March 18, 1823, Mrs. Sarah Farnum. Chil- dren by second wife :
32. John, b. Nov. 30, 1823; m. Hannah Sargent ; res. Danbury.
33. Peter B., b. Dec. 19, 1827; m. Lucinda Morrill; res. Warner.
34. Nathan, b. April 16, 1825. See.
35. Mary, b. Aug. 10, 1828; m. Oct. 22, 1855, Hamilton Gookin. See.
36. Phebe D., b. May 30, 1830 ; m. Rev. J. W. Bean (see) ; she d. Oct. 5, 1860.
37 and 38. Harrison and -, twins, b. Nov. 23, 1832 ; the former d. April 13, 1843 : the latter d. April 20, 1833.
39. Levi W., b. Sept. 13, 1834; m. Ann Sanborn; remains on the farm; three children.
40. Harriet N., b. Aug. 4, 1836; d. April 20, 1855.
(33) Nathan resided west of Scribner's Corner. He held a number of town offices, and d. June 17, 1881 ; m. May 17, 1853, Adaline Couch ; she d. Dec. 9, 1879.
41. Martha J., b. April 7, 1854. 42. Frank, b. Aug. 3, 1856.
43. Fred, b. Sept. 28, 1858; m. Nancy J. McAllister.
44. Clara, b. March 19, 1860. 45. Emma, b. Dec. 11, 1863.
46. Freeman. b. May 3, 1866. 47. Nettie, b. Nov. 30, 1868.
THE WARDWELL FAMILY.
I. Jeremiah, b. Dec. 17, 1748; removed to Salisbury from Pembroke, in 1804-5, settling on the farm now owned by D. R. McAllister, at Smith's Corner ; d. Aug. 9, 1817 ; m. Nov. 21, 1769, Mary Lovejoy, who was b. April 29, 1748; she d. Feb. 23, 1813.
2. Amos, b. Oct. II, 1770; d. April 19, 1817; m. Anna -; res. and d. at Han- over.
3. Mary, b. Aug. 28, 1772; m. Jonathan Hutchinson ; res. at Merrimack.
4. Isaac, b. Nov. 29, 1774; m. Mary Cushing ; res. at Lebanon, where he d. June 9, 1848. [An Isaac Wardwell m. July 6, 1806, Judith Bean.]
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GENEALOGY AND BIOGRAPHY
5. Abial, b. Nov. 25, 1777 ; removed here previous to his parents, settling in the house opposite Joseph N. Greeley's ; he was a noted singer, and led the choir at the Congregational Church, besides teaching large singing classes ; m. Nov. 8, 1813, Sally Webster ; d. Feb. 9, 1860, without issue.
6. Phebe, b. April 29, 1780; m. Jeremy Webster. See.
7. Sally, b. Feb. 11. 1783; m. - Adams.
8. John, b. Sept. 14, 1785; m. Clarissa Davis, of Warner; remained on the farm for a time, then removed to Laconia.
9. Joseph, b. July 3, 1788; d. at Boston, Mass., Feb. 3, 1814; he graduated at Dartmouth College in 1813 and became a school teacher.
10. Jesse, b. Dec. 3, 1790 ; went to sea and was lost ; unm.
11. Reuben, b. April 23, 1795: built the Josiah Hook house, where he d. April 15, 1838 ; he was a carriage maker by trade, and made improvements on the old style wagons; a man much respected by his townsmen; m. Polly ( Mary) Webster, who was b. April 23, 1790; she d. Sept. 22, 1836.
12. Janett, b. Jan. IS, ISIS ; d. Oct. 29, 1838, unm.
13. Harriet, b. Feb. 24, 1819; d. April 1, 1841.
14. Charlotte, b. Feb. 21. 1821 ; d. July 12, 1831.
15. George, b. May 16, 1825; d. -. 16. Abial, b. Feb. 6, 1827 ; d. Oct. 25, 1852.
17. Mary E., b. Dec. 9, 1829 ; d. Sept. 3, 1837.
18. John Webster, b. June 1, 1832; he has been for many years connected with the Concord Railroad.
THE WATSON FAMILY.
We are able, authentically, to trace the Watsons of this town back to Nicodemus (5), a register of whose family may be found on the Hampstead records. From the traditional his- tory of the family descendants, the accuracy of which is not certain, we have prior to Nicodemus :
I. Parmenus Watson, b. 1700, (?) who was the paternal ancestor of our families ; m. Mary Flanders, and had :
2. Obadiah. 3. Pelatiah.
4. D'armenus, who settled in that part of Warner called "Joppa." He was one of the first deacons of the Congregational Church, and filled various town offices.
5. Nicodemus. See. 6. Caleb). 7. John. No daughters.
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HISTORY OF SALISBURY
(5) Nicodemus resided at Hampstead ; m. Elizabeth Harri- man, and had :
8. Daniel, b. 1755; lived in that part of Warner called "Joppa."
9. Abijah, b. 1759. See. 10. Caleb. See. 11. Ithamar, b. 1853; no daughters.
(6) Abijah ( Elder) remained here with his younger brother Caleb ; settled and cleared up the farm now occupied by J. S. Clough, where he d. Dec. 1, 1828. He was a preacher and farmer. He m. Sarah Quimby, who d. Jan. 25, 1830. Children all born here :
12. Daniel, b. Oct. 23, 1787. See.
13. Joseph, b. Feb. 29, 1784 ; m. Sept. 3, 1805, Polly Sargent, of Warner. Rev. Mr. Watson preached in Bradford and vicinity for some years; rem. to Winchendon, Mass., where he continued his ministerial labors ; d. -.
14. Nicodemus, b. Jan. 15, 1786; m. Prudence Morrill, of Warner, where he d. Sept. 10, 1844.
1 5. Betsy, b. Feb. 11, 1788; m. in 1835, Zebulon Sargent; d. without issue, at Orange, Feb. - , 1860.
16. Abijah, b. Feb. 21, 1760 ; m. Sally Sargent ; d. in 1876.
17. Lucy, b. July 6, 1762 ; m. in May, 1810, Abel Buzzell ; d. Jan. 7, 1815. He d. April 3, 1812, leaving one daughter, who m. in 1829, Currier Quimby, who lived in the Watson District and had six children, Jessie, Mary and John now living.
IS. Sally, b. June 28, 1795; m. Samuel B. Peasley; rem. to Winchendon, Mass .; d. 1871.
19. Polly, b. Oct. 21, 1797 ; m. Dec. 31, 1818, Israel Dow, Jr. ; he d. Aug. 11, 1858; she resides in Warner.
20. David, m. (1) in 1824, Levina Pattee; m. (2) Dec. 20, 1855, Mrs. Mary C. Gould ; he d. Dec. 27, 1870.
21. Jonathan, b. March 13, 1800; m. Nov. 28, 1822, Achsah Wheeler ; resides in Warner.
22. Nancy, b. April 2, 1804; m. in 1826, Clark Sargent ; d. in 1842.
(12) Daniel remained on the homestead ; d. in 1853; m. Dec. 12, 1804, Sarah Palmer, of Salisbury (?), where she was b. Dec. 18, 1732 ; she d. Oct. 7, 1856.
23. Abijah, b. July 31, 1805; d. at Cincinnati, Oct. 4, 1870; m. (1) in June, 1832, Lavina Watkins, of Warner; m. (2) in 1833, Phebe Sargent, of Windsor, Vt.
24. Mirriam F., b. Dec. 26, 1808; m. in Dec. 1832, Benjamin Wells, of Sutton; d. in Minn., Nov. 28, 1873.
25. Lucy B., b. April 6, 1816; m. Sept. 26, 1841, Obadiah Glines; resides in Northfield.
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GENEALOGY AND BIOGRAPHY
26. Nicodemus. See. 27. Prudence, b. July 13, ISI8 ; d. Nov. 5, 1822.
28. Abel B., b. Feb. 9, 18it ; d. April 27, 1829.
(26) Nicodemus remained on the farm until after the birth of children ; rem. to Boscawen; d. Nov. 4, 1875 ; m. April 3, 1843, Eliza Wilkins ; res. Carlisle, Mass.
29. Sarah A., b. April 5, 1845; m. March 14, 1863, John P'. Watson; res. North- field.
30. Mary P., b. Feb. 15, 1849; m. in 1869, Edward Atkinson.
31. George S., b. Oct. 11, IS51; m. Dec. 11, 1877, Lorena M. Stillings, of ('anter- bury.
{10) Caleb, b. at Hampstead, Dec. 6, 1760; m. Dec. 1, 1781, Lydia, dau. of Thomas Howlet ; she was b. at Hillsbor- ough, Mass., Nov. 23, 1761 ; she d. March 20, 1842 ; re- moved to Weare with his father just prior to the revolu- tion. Mr. Watson bought wild land and built a log house, into which he moved his family, in 1788. After years of trial and hardship incident to a pioncer life, he cleared a valuable farm, and erected frame buildings, in which he d., in affluent circumstances, April 28, 1832. He was among the first to espouse the doctrines of the Free Will Baptist Church, under its founder, Rev. Benjamin Randall, and was for many years a deacon of that church. Few have lived more exemplary lives than this couple, who lived to see their large family of children honored members of society. Mr. Watson served in the Revolu- tionary War, from Weare, in Capt. Randall's company, assigned to the defence of the western frontier, under the command of Major Whitcomb. This company was for a time stationed at a fort in Corinth, Vt. ; the site of which was a few years since well defined by a circular mound with a depression in the center. While stationed here, a messenger came with the news that the Tories and Indians were burning Royalton and butchering the inhabitants. Capt. Randall immediately started to inter- cept the fiends, but was too late and the pursuit was abandoned. On their return to the fort, Watson and
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HISTORY OF SALISBURY
fourteen others were detailed to visit another fort. Get- ting lost in the woods, they came near perishing with hunger ; twelve of their number laid down expecting never to rise. The other three continued on and dis- covered smoke among the trees, which guided them to the house of a man named Clemmens ; his wife provided for their immediate wants, and the husband, with a knapsack of provision and a bottle of rum, started for and brought in the remaining twelve. After they were sufficiently recruited, he conducted them to their desti- nation. Though a farmer by profession, he was a natural mechanic, and made most of the articles used by farm- ers, cart-wheels, ox-yokes, barrels, boots and shoes, etc.
32. Thomas, b. May 10, 1782 ; m. Rebecca Davis, of Shapleigh, Me., where he was in mercantile pursuits for a number of years; rem. to Thorndike, Me., and d. Jan. 12, 1863.
33. Ithamar. See. 34. Caleb, b. in Weare, Feb. 3, 1787. See. Children born in Salisbury :
35, Safford, b. Dec. 29, 1791 ; m. Sept. 25, 1817, Abigail Currier, who was b. at Deerfield, Oct. 27, 1792; they had five children. They lived to celebrate their golden wedding and the following morning led a large party to the top of Kearsarge. He d. at Sutton, July 13, 1872.
36. Lydia, b. April 23, 1789: m. in Jan., 1822, John Clement, Jr., of Warner ; d. there Jan. 17, 1854; they had two children, John W. and Rachel C.
37. Moses H., b. July 23, 1794. See.
38. Mark K., a jeweler ; d. in New Jersey, unm.
39. Hannah, m John True; d. in Michigan. 40. Alice, m. Richard Fellows ; ( II].)
(33) Ithamar b. in Weare, Sept. 7, 1784 ; m. Dec. 25, 1807, Dolly, dau. of Stephen Thurston, then a resident of Salisbury, b. at Newburyport, Mass., ; d. Nov. 2, 1853, aged 71. Mr. Watson was a school teacher, a farmer and mechanic, making wool-carding machines, and built and put in successful operation the second machine of this kind ever operated in Vermont. Later in life he made spin- ning jennies and looms for factories, and could make from wood, iron, steel or brass anything he required, and nothing left his hands until it showed the finish of a
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GENEALOGY AND BIOGRAPHY
master workman. During the last war with England he was Captain of a company of minute-men, and for some years was Captain of the Blackwater militia company, his fine physique and military bearing well fitting him for a commander. In 1820 he removed to Orford and in February, 1821, to Corinth, Vt., remaining there seven years ; removed to Warner, exchanged farms with his son-in-law, returning to Salisbury, Nov. 2, 1855. She d. June 6, 1859. Both were members of the Baptist Church. For a number of years he was a Master Mason, and was District Deputy Grand Lecturer. He was noted for his honesty and integrity.
+ 1 . Henry L., b. in Salisbury, Feb. 10, 1811. See.
4 2 . Melinda C., b. in Salisbury, June 8, 1816; m. Jan. 1, 1838, Tenny Hardy; he d. Feb. 23, 1873; resided at Littleton.
+3 . Joseph W., b. in Corinth, Vt., June to, 1823; d. young.
44. Porter B., b. in Corinth, Vt, July 13, 1825. See.
(37) Moses H. resided on the old homestead ; d. Nov. 23, 1858; m. April 28, 1813, Lydia Fellows, who was b. July 6, 1794, and at the present time (1890) enjoys good health and possesses a most retentive memory.
45. Albert F., b. May 17, 1820. See.
46. Mary M., b. Jan. 25, 1823; d. July 30, 1865, unm.
(34) Caleb settled in Warner, conducting the carriage-making business ; was a skillful mechanic; removed to Salis- bury in 1820, settling on the homestead; d. April 12, 1860; m. Nov. 24, 1814, Rachel, dau. of John Couch ; she. d. July 9, 1863.
Harriet B., b. Oct. 4, 1815 ; m. Deacon James Morrill, of Warner ; d -.
4.5. Sophrona E., b. March 27, ISIS; d. July 31, 1855, unm.
49. Ithamar II., b. March 19, 1820; m. Sarah J. Page ; resided in Manchester ; d. -.
50. Louisa J., b. July 31, 1825; m. John C. Ela ; res. in Warner.
51. John C., b. May 13, 1828; m. Hannah A. Morrill ; res. in Warner.
52. Lucinda H., b. Dec. 26, 1830; m. Samuel J. Myrick ; d. at Manchester.
53. Livonia, b. July 5, 1833; d. young.
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HISTORY OF SALISBURY
(41) Henry Lyman, M. D., obtained his academic education at Salisbury and Phillips Academies, teaching winters. He read medicine with Hon. Leonard Eaton, M. D., at Warner, graduating from the Vermont Medical School in 1848, since which time he has followed his chosen profession, one and a-half years at Stewartstown, twenty years at Guildhall, Vt., and the last fourteen years at Littleton, owning a drug store in the latter place for some five years. In 1859 he was made a Mason in North Star Lodge, of Lancaster; in 1861 he was a charter member of Pulaski Lodge, of Newbury, Vt., was its first Secretary, and was Marshal of the same at the time of his removal to Littleton, where he is a member of Burns Lodge. Dr. Watson, from his youth up, has been a strict temperance man, both by profession and practice, believing that a physician, of all men, should be strictly moral and free from all pernicious habits .. In March, 1832, his first vote was given in Salisbury, he voting, with his father, grandfather and two uncles, the Democratic ticket. In 1852, he was elected to the Ver- mont State Senate, and was re-elected in 1853. In 1866-7, he represented Guildhall in the Legislature, and he was postmaster at that place during the administra- tion of President Polk. After his removal to Littleton he was postmaster for a time, and has creditably filled numerous positions of honor and trust, both public and private. He m. (1) June 4, 1840, Roxana, dau. of Jesse Hughes ; b. at Maidstone, Jan. 19, 1816; d. Dec. 7, 1850; m. (2) Jan. 1, 1852, Mary J., dau. of Thaddeus Hardy, of Warner ; she d. in August, 1884. Children by first wife : I. Henry Porter, b. at Guildhall, Vt., June, 8, 1844; is a physician at Haverhill, N. H. II and III. Mary Hughes and Ellen Melinda, b. Dec. 18, 1847 ; the former d. Apr. 22, 1849; the latter m. F. S. Leach ; res. Littleton.
(44) Porter Baldwin was educated at the Salisbury Academy. He was selectman 1858-60, representative 1862-3, and
B. Watson attore
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GENEALOGY AND BIOGRAPHY
was justice of the peace while a resident here. In 1864 removed to Newbury, Vt., where he remained till 1869, removing to Littleton. In 1873 he engaged in the glove leather manufacture and in 1880 entered into partner- ship with the Eureka Glove Company, at Littleton. He m. Oct. 17, 1848, Luvia E., dau. of P. P. Ladd, of Lunen- burgh, Vt. In 1883 he was elected treasurer of Grafton county, and in 1889 selectman and overseer of the poor. Children :
54. Irving Allison, b. Sept. 6, 1849; read medicine with Drs. H. L. Watson, A. B. Crosby, and Prof. Howard of New York; graduated from the Medical Department of the University of Vermont, June 18, 1871 ; practised in Northumberland from June, 1871, to Oct., 1881. He represented the town in the Legislature, 1879-81. By an act of the Legislature of 1881, a State Board of Health was created and Dr. Watson was appointed on the board and elected permanent secretary, with office at the State House, Concord, where he now resides. In 1883 he was elected secretary of the American Public Health Association ; was re-elected in 1886 and again in 1889, each election being for a term of three years. In 1883 he was by legislative act made registrar of vital statistics for the state. In 1884 he was commissioned surgeon of the 3d regiment, with the rank of major, and in 1889 promoted to medical director of the N. H. N. G. witn the rank of Lieut. Col. In 1885 Dartmouth Col- lege conferred upon him the degree of A. M. He m. April 17, 1872, Lena A. Farr, of Littleton. He has one child, Bertha M., b. Feb. 2, 1880.
55. Idella, b. May 14, 1851 ; m. Jan. 1, 1874, Otis (). Streeter, of Littleton ; has one child, Ina, b. -.
56. Walter W., b. Feb. 9, 1853; m. Sept. 12, 1877, Ada Ilatch, of Littleton.
57. Fred, b. Feb. 26, 1855; d. Nov. 3, 1858.
58. Alice M., b. Feb. 17, 1858 ; m. Jan. 1, 1884, William F. Andrus.
59. Fred A., b. Aug. 23, 1860; m. June 15, ISS3, Ella J. Ide.
Go. Angie B., b. Nov. 17, 1862.
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HISTORY OF SALISBURY
61. Minnie C., b. Feb. 28, 1866; m. Nov. 4, 1885, S. E. Richardson ; d. - 1887. 62. Albert L., b. April 21. 1874.
(45) Albert F. remained on the homestead ; m. Jan. 22, 1844, Lydia Nichols, who was b. at Hampton, Oct. 7, 1820; he d. Jan. 15, 1886.
63. Frank A., b. April 11, 1845 ; m. in 1877, Dora A. Elkins, d. in 1878.
64. Charles E., b. Aug. 11, 1851 ; m. (1) Feb. 5, 1871, Nettie True, who d. Oct. 3. 1875; m. (2) Sept. 18, 187-, Lavina A., dau. of B. F. Sanborn. One daughter, Laura F., b. in July, 1873; d. young.
65. Martha A., b. Jan. 1, 1855; m. in Nov. 1875, Worthy W. Woodbury; res. in Bloomington, Ill.
THE WEBSTER FAMILY.
FOUR BRANCHES.
The common ancestor of the Webster family in New Eng- land is in doubt, some historians claiming John Webster, who came from Ormsby, England, settled at Ipswich, New Eng- land, and admitted freedman of Massachusetts in 1635, as the first ancestor. At the present time, Thomas Webster is thought to be the ancestor of the Salisbury families. He died at Ormsby, England, April, 1634, leaving a widow Margarie (who m. Deacon William Godfrey ) and one son Thomas, (2) who settled at Ipsich and admitted freedman in 1674 or 1635; it is said he emigrated from Essex, county of Suffolk, England m. Nov. 2, 1757 (1756) Sarah Brewer; removed to Hampton, N. H., where he d. Jan. 5, 1715, aged 83, leaving entre alias Ebenezer, (3) b. at Hampton, Aug. 1, 1667; m. July 25, 1709, Hannah Judkins. He was one of the grantees of Kingston, to which place he removed in 1700. He was pilot in Capt. John Gilman's company, Aug. 16, 1710, which went in pursuit of the Indians. He was a valiant soldier in the Indian wars and d. at Kingston, Feb. 21, 1756. Among his descend- ants we find Ebenezer (4) b. at Kingston, Oct. 10, 1714; m. July 20, 1738, Susan Bachiler, a descendant of Rev. Stephen
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GENEALOGY AND BIOGRAPHY
Bachiler, the first settled minister in the state located at Hampton. She was a woman of remarkable strength of char- acter, robust in form, with black hair, a piercing black eye and of dark complexion. Of this Ebenezer, (4) Rev. Elias Mason said (N. E. Genealogical Register, vol. 6, p. I. ) : "He lived in a small house the cellar of which may still be seen on the left side of the road leading from East Kingston depot to Kings- ton. He was poor, versatile and witty, obtaining a scanty livelihood by hatcheling flax, cutting cord wood, shearing sheep, etc. His wife was a woman of marked ability." The Websters were Scotch, emigrating to England quite carly. They were light complexioned, blue eyed, and had small hands, exceptions being found in Ebenezer and his son Daniel, both of whom very markedly took after the maternal side. Eben- ezer (3) had eight children, viz .: Ebenezer (4) b. Oct. 10, 1714; William, b. Aug. 26, 1716; John, b. Aug. 4, 1719; Joseph and Mary b. Sept. 15, 1724; Iddo, b. Feb. 16, 1727, and two others, girls.
Ebenezer, the fifth descendant from the ancestor Thomas, b. at East Kingston, April 22, 1739; (O. S.) m. Jan. 18, 1761, Mehitable Smith, b. at Kingston; d. in Salisbury, March 28, 1774; m. (2) Oct. 13, 1774, Abigail Eastman, b. at Salisbury, Mass., July 10, 1737 ; d. April 14, 1816, aged 78. Her father was Thomas, son of Samuel, who m. in 1686 (84) Elizabeth Severance. He was one of the grantees of Kingston; his father was the ancestor, Easman, (Eastman ) b. at Wales, England, in 1611 and came to this country in 1638 and settled at Salisbury, Mass., in 1640; d. Dec. 10, 1694. She was a woman of clear, vigorous understanding, of more than ordinary common sense and enjoyed nothing more than a debate on any subject ; a woman of high spirit, proud of her children and ambitious for their future distinction.
On the authority of Mrs. Benjamin Shaw, (Ann Fellows ) whose father, Ananiah, was a childhood playmate of Ebenezer Webster, I have the following : " His father not being in very prosperous circumstances, Ebenezer was bound out to a trade
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HISTORY OF SALISBURY
to a man named Brown, who proved to be a close-fisted, tyran- nical master, and when Ebenezer was fourteen years of age he ran away and went to live in the family of Col. Ebenezer Ste- vens," whose name vas the first on the list of grantees of the present town of Salisbury, and in whose honor the town was named (Stevenstown). Col. Stevens owning much land here, persuaded young Webster to locate here, which he did on reaching his majority, (1760.) After his marriage in 1761 he took up his permanent residence here, settling on Punch brook, and building a log house on the west side of the road, facing on what is called the North Road. Just north of the bridge crossing the brook and in close proximity to a beaver meadow the cellar hole is still (1890) to be seen just south of a small apple tree close to the stone wall, and south of what is known as the "birth-place." A spring just west of the house fur- nished water noted for its purity, and the orchard set out by him still flourishes. The farm originally contained 225 acres. When he settled here his house was the most northern on the route to Canada. In this log house the family resided seven years, when he built the house of which the accompanying picture is taken from the only true cut in existence. This house was said to be the first frame house in town.
The house faced the south and stood just south east of the present two-story commodious dwelling. In the west front room (still standing) Daniel and Ezekiel were born. The west half of this old house is still standing, it being the ell of the house known as the birthplace, the apartment being 19 feet square and seven feet post. The farm is owned by Hon. George W. Nesmith. The present buildings were erected by Stephen Sawyer near the close of the last century. He cut the old house in two and moved the west half to its present location; the east half was moved back and converted into a hog pen. There were two rooms to the main house, while at the back was a long, low kitchen. The present well was dug by Mr. Webster, who also set out the large elm tree, (now gird- ing 21 feet) and all the old fruit trees about the place. He
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GENEALOGY AND BIOGRAPHY
remained in this house until 1785-86, when he removed to what is known as the lower village, now Franklin, building a large two-story tavern stand with a two-story ell, extending north in what is now George B. Matthews's garden. July 11, 1780, he purchased 60 acres, and one-half of a ico-acre lot of land of Sarah Call, daughter of Stephen Call, the first settler, for the sum of £165 at the rate of three shillings per bushel of Indian corn. On part of this land he built the tavern stand. Here he remained till 1799, when he exchanged his tavern with William Haddock for the house where he died, (1806) the middle house connected with the Orphans' Home. His two eldest children were buried near the log house and his first wife was buried on Searle's Hill ; his second wife and many of his children were buried east of his last home, in the original graveyard belonging to Elm's farm.
The first saw and grist mill were located just east of his home on Punch brook. On the expiration of the proprietor's lease, Mr. Webster purchased and managed the mill, and in addition had a large cider mill southeast of his house. Mr. Webster held his first public office in 1764, being chosen high- way surveyor. At the first town meeting in 1768 he was chosen moderator, which office he held forty-three times after- wards, the last being in March, 1803. In 1769 he was chosen selectman, holding the office nine years, although in Septem- ber, 1776, he resigned and performed six months' service in the army; enlisting a company, he marched to New York and participated in the battle of White Plains. He started for Bunker Hill but did not arrive until the morning after the battle. As chairman of the board of selectmen in 1776, he carried around the Association Test Act for the male residents of the town to sign their loyalty to this then young province. In 1778-So he was chosen representative of the classed towns of Salisbury and Boscawen. He was representative from Salis- bury in 1790-91, and senator for the years 1785-86-87-88-89. Mr. Webster was in the court house at Exeter in 1786 when the trouble arose over the currency question and the mob
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HISTORY OF SALISBURY
threatened to clear the court house, and was called out to aid in quieting the people. Without creating any excitement he stepped to the platform and his whole speech was: "I com- mand you to disperse," which had the desired effect.
In March, 1778, the town chose a committee, consisting of Ebenezer Webster and Capt. Matthew Pettingill as delegates to a convention to be holden at Exeter on June 10 following, "for the sole purpose of forming a permanent plan of govern- ment for the future well being of the good people of the United Colonies." July 16, 1788, Salisbury again sent Mr. Webster as delegate to the convention at Exeter, "for the pur- pose of considering the proposed constitution," and a town committee "chosen to talk the matter up and instruct Col. Webster how to vote upon their decision." Like most of these northern towns they told him to vote against it. Mr. Web- ster was privately in favor of the new constitution and at the first meeting held, opposed it by silence. Public feeling was very strong at Exeter in opposition to the constitution; the friends of the measure found if the meeting for its adoption was held there they would meet with defeat, and they adjourned to meet at Concord in June, 1788. Mr. Webster came home and talked strongly for its adoption, of the many benefits to be derived from its provisions, and finally asked the privilege of supporting the proposed constitution, and the answer was, that he might do as he thought proper. When the vote was about to be taken Mr. Webster arose and said: "Mr. President, I have listened to the arguments for and against the constitution ; I am convinced such a government as that constitution will establish, if adopted-a government acting directly on the people of the states-is necessary for the common defence and the general welfare. It is the only government which will enable us to pay off the national debt-the debt which we owe for the Revolution and which we are bound in honor to fully and fairly discharge. Besides, I have followed the lead of Washington through seven years of war and I have never been
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