USA > New Hampshire > Merrimack County > Sutton > The history of Sutton, New Hampshire : consisting of the historical collections of Erastus Wadleigh, Esq., and A. H. Worthen, part 1 > Part 17
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JOHN HARVEY, for the Committee.
Which report was accepted March 14, 1827.
The following items, copied from the records, show what action the town took on this matter:
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HISTORY OF SUTTON.
Mar. 10, 1829. Dudley Morrill and others petition the town to build a poor-house on the Davis farm.
Voted, To build a poor-house on the Davis farm. Committee chosen to make a plan and estimate the cost of the same, John Har- vey, Dudley Morrill, John Pillsbury, John Adams, and Amos Pres- sey, the committee to attend to said duty free of expense to the town.
March 11, 1835. Voted, The selectmen have the care of the Davis farm.
1837. Another petition for the town to make arrangements to build a poor-house on the Davis farm, and voted to do so.
Later in 1837. Voted, That the selectmen be directed to sell and convey seventy acres of the town farm, commonly called the Davis farm, in the manner which, in their opinion, will best serve the interest of the town.
Mar. 15, 1837. Voted, The proposal of Edward Dodge for a poor-farm be accepted.
Voted, The selectmen contract for the support of the poor until the 1st of April, and then they be removed to the poor-house.
Voted, The selectmen hire an agent to carry on the poor-farm, and purchase stock and farming tools.
Voted, The poor-house be a house of correction.
March 14, 1838. Voted, To give Mrs. Hubbard, mistress of the poor-house, ten dollars as a deed of charity. [Those who remem- ber this circumstance say that the wording of this vote, as it is on the record, does not express the intent and full meaning of the vote. The gratuity to this lady was in recognition of her good management of the house and of her kindness to the inmates.] She was the wife of the poor-house master, John Hubbard, who held the position several years.
1848. John Huntoon had charge of the poor-house.
1849. John Felch was in charge of town-farm till March 25, 1750. Salary, $175.
James P. Wells till 1853. Salary, $205.
Asa Bean till March, 1854.
David M. Morse till March, 1855.
Sewall B. Prescott till March, 1857.
James M. Nelson till March, 1860. Salary, $219.88.
The selectmen praise his administration in spite of rumors set going against it by malicious persons. They suggest the introduction of straw braiding for children and others who can do it.
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THE POOR-HOUSE.
Nathaniel L. Clay took charge Feb. 11, 1860, and held the place for several years. The following statements complimentary to his administration are found on the Town records :
1864. We are happy to say that the appearance of the poor establishment is highly satisfactory, reflecting great credit on the agent and his lady in the management of the establishment the past few years.
1866. Poor-House. All seems to be in good order about the buildings, and much credit is due to the agent and his lady for their neatness, economy, and perseverance in managing the estab- lishment the past year.
1866. Ditto in every respect.
1898. We believe the farm has been well managed. the crops har- vested at the right time, secured in good order, and well taken care of. Order, economy, and cleanliness throughout the whole estab- lishment was not the exception but the rule, and the agent and matron deserve and should receive much credit for their earnest endeavor to promote the best interest of the establishment and con- sequently of the town.
John W. Blodgett had charge in 1868 and 1869; Wyman P. Kimball, 1869.
In 1870 Henry F. Presby had charge.
In 1871, '72, John W. Blodgett again.
In 1873, '74 '75, Charles L. Andrew.
In 1876, James L. Colby.
In 1877, '78, Charles C. Sawyer.
In 1879, Jason H. Watkins.
In 1880, James L. Colby and James D. Prescott
In 1881, James D. Prescott.
In 1882,
In 1883, Edgar R. Perkins.
In 1884, Hiram B. Raleigh.
In 1885, '86, '87, Charles L. Andrew.
In 1888, '89, Ellen A. Andrews, wife of Charles L. Andrews.
SURPLUS REVENUE, 1837.
In 1836, the national treasury of the United States was overflowing. For several years the country had enjoyed great prosperity, business of
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HISTORY OF SUTTON.
all kinds had been good, the revenue had largely exceeded the expenses, the national debt had been extinguished, and yet millions remained in the treasury for which the government had no use. Under the apprehension that it might be used for bad purposes, congress very properly decided to deposit it with the states. On the first of January, 1837, $36,000,000 was thus disposed of, each state receiving a sum proportioned to its electoral repre- sentation. Some of the states carried the idea fur- ther, and distributed the money to their several towns and cities. In some cases the towns appear to have been as much afraid of it as were the state and nation, and did not at first wish to receive it. Sutton passed a vote not to receive it, and also voted that the state treasurer be notified to that effect, but a little later voted to receive it and use it to purchase a poor-house and farm, and also voted that Enoch Page be the town's agent to receive the surplus revenue.
The Sutton records do not contain anything to show the amount that came to Sutton in this distri- bntion, neither do the records of the state treasurer show the amount. Fortunately the fact is supplied by the recollection of Benjamin F. Pillsbury, for the last ten years a resident of Minnesota, but for many years living in Sutton and doing a large share of the public work. In answer to a letter of inquiry on this subject, he says,-' The town of Sut- ton received about $2,500 of surplus revenne, and bought the poor-farm with it. The town has since sold that farm and bought the one they now occupy with the money received from the sale of the old one."
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THE POOR-IIOUSE.
The old poor-house and farm were sold, and the new establishment purchased in 1856. The com- mittee to purchase and sell were John G. Huntoon, Stephen Hoyt, and Philip Little. The new one was bought for $3,000 and the old one was sold for $2,344.73, the deficiency of $655.27 probably being made up from what was left over from the surplus revenue fund when the first poor-farm was pur- chased. That there was something left over is shown by the following article in the warrant for town-meeting :
March 11, 1848. To see if the town will vote to distribute the fund in possession of the town. and known as the surplus revenue, principal and interest, equally among the resident tax-payers of this town, on or before the first day of September.
Voted. To indefinitely postpone.
As the question does not come up again, the probability is that the remainder of the surplus rev- enue fund was devoted according to the vote of 1837, that is, to the purchase of the poor-house and farm.
VOTES CONCERNING MAINTAINING TOWN POOR.
1814. On motion, Voted, the maintaining the town poor be put. up at vendue, and struck off to the person who will do the same for the least sum, said poor to be boarded, nursed, fed, and lodged, to be furnished with all the necessaries of life as well as everything else calculated to make them quiet and content both in health and in sickness, the doctor's bills to be paid by the town ; said poor to be kept till the next annual meeting,-the clothing and bedding to be furnished by the town. And the person or persons who engage to keep any or all of said poor shall immediately procure satisfac- tory bondsmen for the faithful performance of the above requisi- tions ; and the selectmen shall, at all times, have the charge and direction of said poor ; to put to new places at any time when, in
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HISTORY OF SUTTON.
their opinion, they are illy used, and whenever their comfort and con- venience requires it, the persons engaging to keep said poor to be entitled to all the reasonable services of said poor, so long as they remain with them. Mr. Ebenezer Simons agreed to keep Francis Como [sometimes spelled Coomer] and wife for $1.33} per week the ensuing year.
Voted, To sell the Coomer farm.
1817. Voted, The interest arising from the sale of the Coomer farm and the common lot be always used to defray town charges till otherwise ordered by the town.
In warrant, 1814. To see what method the town will take to carry on the Davis farm, that Jacob Davis now lives on.
Voted, That the selectmen be directed to procure a room and comfortable accommodations for Mr. Jacob Davis and his wife, if agreeable to their wishes, and that such provision be made for the remainder [i. e., the insane] of the family as, in the judgment of the selectmen, they require. Probably Mrs. Coomer died in 1817, as her name does not occur after that date.
Feb. 2, 1839. On motion, Voted, that the purchase of a cooking stove, for the use of the town poor-house, be referred to the selectmen.
Nov. 2, 1880. The question came before the meeting, "Shall the poor-farm be sold ?" Voted, To keep it, and in March follow- ing Voted, To raise $1000 to repair the buildings on the same, pur- chase furniture for the house and the necessary tools to carry on the farm.
March, 1865. "Is it expedient to purchase a farm and build- ings for a county poor-house ?" Yeas, 2 ; nays, 85.
March 12, 1867. " Is it expedient to abolish pauper settlements, and throw the entire support of paupers on counties?" For the measure, 8 ; against it, 108.
April 12, 1878. "Are you in favor of a return to the plan of supporting all paupers who have ever had a settlement in any town or city in the country by such towns or cities instead of by the pres- ent plan ?" 107 unanimous in favor.
" Are you in favor of rebuilding the county buildings recently destroyed by fire and continuing the county farm ?" 99 unanimous against rebuilding.
BURYING-GROUNDS.
-
In town-meeting, March 29, 1791,
Voted, That the selectmen shall get a conveyance of a piece of land for a burying-ground on the lot of land that Mr. Littlehale lived on in said town.
This vote has reference to the South burying- ground, in which, however, interments had already been made.
Also at the same meeting,
Voted, The said selectmen shall procure a place for a burying- yard in the northerly end of said town, near the mouth of Kezar's pond, so called.
Aug. 27, 1798. Voted, That Samuel Bean and Simon Kezar shall serve as a committee to consult with Esq'r Matthew Harvey concerning a deed of a piece of land for a burying-yard in said town.
At the time the last vote was passed, Mr. Har- vey was quite feeble, having been for several months failing with consumption.
As Mr. Kezar and Mr. Bean, the gentlemen composing the committee, were not the kind of persons to assume a trust and fail in the execution of it, we may take it for granted that they did interview Mr. Harvey on this subject, but what understanding was reached between them is not recorded.
The writer remembers to have been told by Mr.
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HISTORY OF SUTTON.
E. Wadleigh that no deed of conveyance of the North burying-ground to the town had ever been found. It is probable that the right of the general public to use for a burial-ground the present North Sutton graveyard was founded on just what the sons of Mr. Harvey always believed and declared it to be, viz., a verbal understanding that their father gave the land for its present use, so long as it is used for that purpose and for no other. And the same was true, as they believed, concerning his gift of the land whereon stand the school-house, and also the meeting-house and the common around it.
When the committee consulted Mr. Harvey on this subject, it is quite likely that the latter, realiz- ing that his own death was so near at hand, might have had a feeling which made him shrink from the thought of selling the very ground which was about to take into its quiet care and keeping his own mortal body. The purchase-money he did not need for himself nor for his children, and his prin- cipal object, the permanence of its use as a burying- ground, being assured by the many interments already made there, he probably at that time had not inuch further interest in the matter.
The custom of making a private family tomb or graveyard on one's own estate, so much in vogue at an early period in the older towns of Massachu- setts, had been tried long enough to be proved un- satisfactory in a country where estates so fre- quently change owners. The private burying- ground on the estate, however sacredly regarded by the family, is felt to be greatly in the way when
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BURYING-GROUNDS.
the estate passes into the possession of those not of kindred blood, and may even become an obstacle in the way of transfer. What is true of almost everything we undertake to establish in this world seems to be especially true of a burying-ground, viz., that to ensure its continuance we must give to others an equal interest with ourselves in its pres- ervation.
The father of Mr. Harvey was Jonathan Harvey, one of the earliest settlers in Nottingham, N. H. He died, not having greatly passed middle life, and, being the first person who died in the remote and mountainous district in which he settled, was buried in a corner of a field. His wife and chil- dren long survived him, and it requires no great stretch of imagination to show us that the remem- brance of the father's lonely grave in the field caused the son to feel strongly the propriety and importance of setting apart, as he did, at an early period, a suitable piece of land for a graveyard, and committing it to the public for its continued use and preservation.
Soon after the death of Mr. Harvey, the town appears to have assumed the care, if not the owner- ship, of the North burying-ground as well as that of the South. The record says, under date of March 3, 1801,-
Voted, To fence the burying-yards.
Voted, To choose a committee to see that the burying-yards are fenced. Asa Nelson, James Taylor, Jonathan Roby, Benjamin Wadleigh, Jonathan Eaton, and Benjamin Fowler were chosen committee for this purpose.
Voted, That the fence shall be a four foot and a half wall, with a good gate.
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HISTORY OF SUTTON.
Voted, That the work shall be done by the tenth day of Septem- ber next.
Voted, That all the work that has been done on the South yard, which is thought to be beneficial by the committee, shall be credited to the doers of it.
In warrant for town-meeting, March 24, 1801. To see if the town will vote to exchange a piece of land with Mr. John Harvey, in order to bring the graveyard at the North meeting-house into a square form. [The John Harvey referred to was father of Dea. Joseph Harvey. The estate he owned and occupied adjoined the burying-ground.]
Voted, That the committee chosen to see that the graveyards are fenced shall have the liberty to exchange lands with Mr. John Har_ vey, if they shall think it is absolutely necessary for the benefit of the town.
March 13, 1804. Voted. That the inhabitants of this town who have done labor in fencing the South burying-ground shall have fifty cents a day for said labor.
Voted. To allow Jonathan Eaton two dollars for work done on the burying-yard fence near the North meeting-house.
THE SOUTH BURYING-GROUND,
as the town records show, was on land purchased from Ezra Littlehale. Many interments took place in the ground before any purchase was made, which probably occasioned its being made a public burying-ground at a later period. The records show that neither of the burying-grounds was fenced by the town till about 1801. The first per- son known to have been buried at the South grave- yard was the wife of Jonathan Wadleigh, who died in 1772. The next persons known to have been buried there are Benjamin Mastin, his wife, and daughter Betsey, who all died of dysentery in a few months after coming to Perrystown in 1776.
The cemetery at Sutton Centre was laid out in
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BURYING-GROUNDS.
1841, and the first interment made there was that of Mrs. Elizabeth (Wadleigh) Nelson, wife of Dea. Asa Nelson, Jr.
EASTERN OR GORE BURYING-GROUND.
Residents in the eastern part of the town found it was necessary to have a burying-place nearer than either of those named, and hence what is spoken of on the town records as the Gore or Eastern burying-ground was opened. According to the recollection of Miss Merriam Palmer, an aged lady and a life-long resident of that section of the town, this was laid out in 1832, and the first one buried there was a son of Jonathan Palmer, not named. The next one buried there was the wife of Ira S. Palmer. Her maiden name was Abigail Hoyt. She died in July, 1832. The town records show that the town assumed the care of this burying-ground by appointing a sexton for the same as early as 1835.
Many years ago, some graves were discernible in a piece of land on the right of the old road, about a mile below the North Village, supposed to be those of some of the Heaths, who died in town before any grave-yard was laid out, and it was thought that some others might have been there buried.
PENACOOK CEMETERY.
And now, in closing this account of the Sutton cemeteries, we should not do right if we fail to mention one which, if priority of existence give
18
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HISTORY OF SUTTON.
any claim to priority of notice, should have been spoken of first of all. We allude to the Indian burying-ground, on the west shore of Kezar's pond, by a curious chance about opposite the white people's burying-ground near the eastern shore. Unmistakable evidences of the fact of that locality's having been used for the burial of their dead were found there by the early white settlers. When it was first laid out for that purpose no record will ever be found to show, but it is probable that the last interment there was made not many years before the white settlers came to Perrystown.
This region was a favorite one with the red men, and was one of the very last to be abandoned by them, and traces of their comparatively recent occupation of it were plainly discernible when the white settlers came. Slowly retiring before the whites towards Canada, they eventually became merged in the Saint Francis tribe of that region, but they were originally of the Penacook tribe. Hence we will, for their grave-yard, venture the name of the " Penacook Cemetery."
APPRENTICES AND "BOUND OUT."
Indentures between Matthew Harvey and Nathaniel King (after- wards Rev. Nathaniel King, who became eminent as a clergyman of the Freewill Baptist denomination).1
This Indenture witnesseth that Nathaniel King son of James King of Perrystown in the State of New Hampshire and County of Hillsborough Husbandman ; hath put himself, and by these Presents, and with the consent of his father doth put and bind himself an apprentice to Matthew Harvey, in the State and County and town aforesaid, to learn the Art and Mystery of the Husbandry Business ; and with the said Matthew Harvey after the manner of an appren- tice to serve for and during the term of six years to be completed and ended ; during all which time the said Apprentice his said master faithfully shall serve, his secrets keep, his lawful commands gladly everywhere obey. He shall do no damage to his said master, nor suffer it to be done by others, without telling or giving notice to his said master.
He shall not waste his said master's goods, nor lend them unlaw- fully to any. He shall not commit fornication, nor contract matri- mony during said term.
At Cards, dice, or any other unlawful game he shall not play whereby his master have damage with his own goods or the goods of others. He shall not absent himself by day or night from his master's service without his leave ; nor haunt Ale Houses, Taverns, nor Play Houses. But in all things behave himself as a faithful apprentice ought to do toward his said master during said term.
And Matthew Harvey, the said master, doth hereby covenant and promise to teach, instruct, or cause to be done or instructed in the Art and calling of a Husbandman, the said apprentice by the best way or means he may or can.
And if the said apprentice be capable to learn, finding unto him sufficient meat, drink, washing, lodging and apparel : and learn him
1 See sketch of Freewill Baptist Church.
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HISTORY OF SUTTON.
to read and write and cypher; and keep him in sickness and in health during said term.
And, at the expiration of six years, the said master is to give unto the said apprentice two good suits of apparel both linen and woolen, according to the custom of such apprentices, and suitable for him. And, furthermore, the said master is to give the said apprentice at the end of six years, Thirty Pounds, lawful money, old way [old tenor ], to said apprentice at the end of said term.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this first day of April, 1782.
Witness : David Eaton Philip Sargent
Matthew Harvey Nathaniel King.
ANOTHER " INDENTURE,"
Sutton, Aug, 10, 1796.
By an agreement made between Matthew Harvey and Thomas Persons, both of Sutton, said Persons is to live with said Harvey until he is twenty-one years of age, and be obedient to all his law- ful commands, and to be faithful in said Harvey's service,
And for what past time said Persons hath lived with said Har- vey and for what time is here mentioned yet to come, Harvey is to give to said Thomas clothing, and to take care of him in sickness and in health; and at the end of said term Harvey is to pay him Eighty Dollars in stock estimated as six-foot oxen, one pair to be estimated at 12£. or other stock agreeable thereto.
Also said Thomas is to be middling well instructed in Arithmetic as far as through the Rule of Three,
And to have two suits of clothes, one for Meeting, the other for common wear about labor.
The following memorandum, which is marked " Thomas Persons Clothes," was found folded in with the indenture, and is here copied as showing what constituted "two good suits of clothes " at that date.
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APPRENTICES.
THOMAS PERSONS' CLOTHES.
One Meeting Coat
One Surtout
One Pair Cotton Overhauls
Two Waistcoats
Two Jackets,
Three Pair Stockings
One Pair Footings
Three Shirts
Four Pair Overhauls, (two were old.)
One Pair old shoes
One Pair new shoes, for Meeting.
The apprentice system was much in vogue at that day, as a means whereby a boy growing up to manhood might acquire a thorough knowledge of some mechanical trade, or of the " art and mystery of husbandry."
The practice had its origin in the needs of the times, the first and principal need being that every person possessed of a pair of hands of sufficient size and strength must work for his living. In this young colony of enterprising men and their sons there was no place for idlers. But it sometimes happened that a man had more sons than he could find work for on his own land or at his own busi- ness, while with another man these conditions were reversed, so that he needed the very boy who was one too many in his own father's family.
The condition of apprenticeship had in it no implication whatever of social disadvantage to the youth so engaging. He became a member of the family of his " said master," and his wants and his welfare were therein considered, while his good qualities, if he had any, could have opportunity to
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HISTORY OF SUTTON.
manifest themselves. A mutual regard and affec- tion, perhaps of lifelong continuance, was the not infrequent result.
In the indenture of Nathaniel King, the repeated mention of " his said master " grates a little on our modern ears, the term master being offensive not only to young America but also to old America at the present day, and we try to escape the need of using it whenever we can, at least in conversation, by substituting the ugly word "boss," which we have borrowed from the German, the significance of which, however, is the same.
The young man, arriving at twenty-one years of age, was not badly prepared to begin life on his own account,-some money, a fair education, two good suits of clothes, and a knowledge of some good trade or business were his if he kept faithfully his part of the contract.
Thomas Persons served the time specified in the agreement with Deacon Harvey, and afterwards married, April 30, 1799, Abigail, daughter of Elder Samuel Ambrose, and lived where Mr. John Hun- toon now lives. They had four sons and five daugh- ters,-John H. Pearson of Concord being their son. This John H. was born in Sutton, and removed with his parents to Corinth, Maine. Coming of age he returned to this town, and here spent some years. Removed to Northfield, near Franklin village, and went into trade there. Also traded in several other places, and was for many years a leading merchant in Concord. He married a daughter of Hon. Sam- uel Butterfield, of Andover.
It will be observed that in the agreement between
·
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APPRENTICES.
Thomas Persons and Deacon Harvey no mention is made of either parent of Thomas, although he is therein shown to be under twenty-one years of age, which makes it evident, or at least probable, that neither of them was then living. The Persons family were early settlers in Sutton, or, rather, Mrs. Persons and daughters, Polly and Betsey, and sons, Thomas, John, and Joseph, came. It is known that Mr. Persons came in 1777, but died soon after coming.
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