USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > Weare > The history of Weare, New Hampshire, 1735-1888 > Part 37
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
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 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110
The Universalists, with some assistance from the Freewill Bap- tists, built the meeting-house over the town-hall. There were fifty- two pews, which were sold at prices ranging from $17 to $28 .* A bell of excellent tone was also procured, which has ever since sum- moned the people to worship.
With the new church the society must have a new preacher. Rev. Joseph P. Atkinson was called, and June 8th, 1838, he became
* " Record of the Pews in the Universalist meeting House, Weare Center, in 1851.
"Pew. Prized.
Sold to
" Pew. Prized.
Sold to
" No 1
$25
" No 27
$25
Samuel Baker
2
25
28
23
William Woodbury
3
28
Thomas Saltmarsh
29
25
Ezra Edmunds
4
28
Jesse Clement
30
23
E. & R. Peaslee
5
28
Moses Mudget
31
25
James Wallace
6
28
S. W. Chase
32
23
Ebenezer Bailey
7
28
E. W. Osborn
33
25
S. S. Clark
8
28
34
23
9
28
John Bartlett
35
24
Eplıraim Philbrick
10
28
E. & R. Peaslee
36
22
David Dow 2ª
11
28
H. Simons
37
23
Thomas Whittle
12
28
38
20
J. L. Hadley
13
28
39
22
P. & M. Dearborn
14
28
Ezra Dow
40
20
Wd John Cheney
15
27
James Baker
41
22
Wd John Chase 2d
16
27
42
18
Jonathan Stoning
17
25
{ J. Emerson
44
18
18
25
Justice Felch
45
18
Wm. Mathews Jason Philbrick
19
23
46
17
20
23
47
24
21
19
48
23
22
19
49
27
John Wlittle
23
22
Almond Lufkin
50
25
24
21
James Hanson
51
25
Joseph Simons
25
25
Wd Daniel Philbrick
52
24
Nathan Cheney "
John Gould
26
23
§ G. P. Kendrick &
43
20
Jolin Laighton
Elijah Purington
Alonzo Hadley
Eng 1 1 H Putchie
Hiram Simons
.
325
REV. FREDERIC FOSTER.
1861.]
the pastor. He preached two-thirds of the time in the new house and one-third at South Weare. He had large meetings, all the Uni- versalists being in the habit of attending in both places. He had many of the best people in Weare to make up his congregation .* The first Sunday in October he formed a bible-class in connection with his society; it being one of the earliest in the United States. Mr. Atkinson left Weare at the end of a three years' pastorate and went to Stoneham, Mass.
The next settled minister was Rev. William Hooper; then after him there were supplies for some time, and in 1861, Rev. Frederic Fostert was settled. He died in Weare after laboring four years, and since, there has been no regular pastor. Among the noted clergymen who have preached were Revs. G. L. Demarest; G. H. Emerson, A. J. Patterson, S. H. McCollister, all D. D.'s.
The records of this society were burned about 1850, and much of its early history is lost. They began a new record book March 14, 1850, Hiram Simons,# clerk. George Simons was chosen clerk March
* The following were some of the members of his society : -
Hon. Simon P. Colby, Moses Dearborn,
Samuel Philbrick Bailey, Elder James (?) Whittaker, Captain Lufkin,
who lived to be more than 100 years old,
Josiah Dearborn, Moses Eastman, Hiram Simons, John Whittle, William Gove,
James Wallace, Harrison Hobson,
Peter Dearborn,
Hiram Cram,
Captain Gove,
John Gould,
Sidney Brigliam,
Hon. Amos Hadley,
John Cheney,
Moses Dow.
REV. FREDERIC FOSTER was born at Salem, May 10, 1813. His father died, leaving eleven children, two younger than Frederic, who was then six years old. The family, being in reduced circumstances, had of necessity to be separated. Frederic went to Newbury, Vt., to reside with an uncle who was a deacon in the Calvinist Baptist church and made great effort to instil his peculiar faith into the young and genial mind of his nephew. The boy, after a few years, returned to Salem, and thence went to Charlestown, Mass., where he spent three years in a store with a brother-in-law. Returning to Salem, he learned the shoemaker's trade, after which he removed to West Haverhill, Mass., and commenced business for himself. He was now eighteen years of age. He had faithfully improved his limited opportunities and had acquired the rudiments of an education.
About this time he thought of entering the ministry; but he saw the necessity of . a thorough preparation, and resolved upon a collegiate course of study. Although his means were small, and many of his friends attempted to dissuade him from his purpose, yet his determination could not be shaken; he pressed on, overcoming all obstacles, and graduated at Dartmouth in 1840. Subsequently he studied theology, and prepared himself for the ministry under the tuition of that eminent scholar and theologian, Dr. Hosea Ballou. He had accomplished all this work by his own efforts and energy, wholly unaided financially by others.
He married Mrs. Loretta Currier, daughter of John Ayer, of West Haverhill, Mass., Dec. 30, 1841, and was ordained at Winthrop, Me., Dec. 29, 1842. He afterwards preached at Buckfield, Me .; Meriden, Conn .; and in 1861 became the pastor at Weare, where he labored four years. He died of heart-disease March 6, 1865.
Mr. Foster became a Universalist because he could not help it. He was modest and unassuming, kind-hearted and devout, strictly conscientious, and possessed the solid virtues in a large degree. He left a widow, Mrs. Loretta Foster, and three chil- dren, two sons and one daughter, whom he had educated at home. One of the sons, Fred F., graduated at Dartmouth college in the class of 1865.
+ HIRAM SIMONS, son of Christopher and Nancy (Locke) Simons, was born in Weare, Feb. 22, 1805. In early life he labored on the homestead farm, in the south-west part of the town, and when about twelve years old, went to live at Oil Mill. While there he worked in his father's linseed-oil mill, saw-mill and wheelwright shop. Soon
326
HISTORY OF WEARE, NEW HAMPSHIRE.
[1866.
5, 1859, and has since held the office. The society, March 6, 1853,* re-adopted the profession of faith and the constitution.
A Sabbath-school was established June 16, 1866 .· Mrs. Loretta Foster, Mr. and Mrs. George Simons and Charles O. Ballou were the leaders in this work. Mr. Ballou was the first superintendent, holding the office eight years, and Mrs. Foster has since admirably filled the position. George Simonst was the first librarian, Miss Lydia A. Dow, treasurer, and Mrs. Hiram Buswell, secretary. The school has about nine hundred volumes in its library. It was incorporated March 4, 1882. For its amusement and improvement it has had Sunday-evening concerts, once a sacred concert by Patten's cornet band, May festivals and Christmas parties. Besides its regular work, it has engaged in the missionary cause, organizing several Sabbath- schools in other places. It has bought and sent away hundreds of books, maps, pictures and mottoes ; helped build chapels; gave $10 to
after coming of age he engaged in the mercantile bu. himself, taking in as a partner Harrison Hobson. In 1833 they moved to 1; .er, then a thriving
little village, where they continued business, and Mr. Simons also engaging exten- sively in lumbering. They were highly prosperous.
Mr. Simons was a justice of the peace for many years, postmaster from Nov. 15, 1836, to Nov. 5, 1845, town clerk four years, selectman three years, and representative to the General Court in 1849, 1850 and 1859, - offices he filled with honor. He was also on several committees to perform various duties for the town, being chairman of the committee to build the town-house and the church over it. He was active as a member of the Universalist society, took a lively interest in its prosperity, played bass viol for the choir, and was the society's clerk for many years. In 1860 he nioved to Manchester, where he was actively engaged in lumber and building operations and the management of real estate.
Mr. Simons was one of Wcare's most successful business men, and by his own in- dustry acquired a fortune of several hundred thousand dollars. He married M. Al- meda Chase, daughter of John and Lydia Chase, of Weare, Sept. 4, 1842, and to them were born two children :-
Hiram Augustus Simons, born May 25, 1843, enlisted as a soldier in the war of the Rebellion, and died at Columbia college hospital July 19, 1864.
George Frank, born Oct. 11, 1847, died Aug. 9, 1865.
Mr. Simons died June 1, 1882. His widow, Mrs. Simons, still lives in Manchester.
* Some of the members of the society in 1853 : -
James Woodbury, Robert Peaslee,
Moses Johnson, Ezra C. Gove,
Hiram Simons, Moses Dearborn, William Woodbury, Luther E. Gould,
Peter Dearborn, Jonathan P. Muzzey, Alvah E. Dearborn,
Wm. B. Simons,
Ebenezer Peaslee,
J. B. Moulton, Abner L. Hadley,
Charles F. Chase,
Horace Q. Hoit, E. W. Osborn, John W. Chase, Charles O. Ballou,
Wm. B. Gove, Elijah Purington
Ebenezer Bailey, Ira Gove,
John Bartlett, Ezra Dow, Amos Chase, Jason P. Simons,
John Whittle, Josiah G. Dearborn,
S. S. Clark, George Simmons,
J. Paige Bartlett,
Mark Colburn, Albert S. Fisher.
GEORGE SIMONS, the youngest son of Christopher and Nancy (Locke) Simons, was born at Oil Mill village, in Weare, May 13, 1828. His youth was spent at home, assist- ing his father, who was extensively engaged in farming, lumbering and building. His early education was limited to the common school in his native village, with two terms at Clinton Grove academy and two at L. L. Institute, Lebanon. He was then obliged to give up a further education on account of impaired health. He entered the store of his brother, Lewis Simons, in March, 1847, at Oil Mill, as clerk; became a partner the next November, and Oct. 9, 1848, bought the entire interest. In less than a month, November 4, the store and most of the contents were burned in the confla- gration that destroyed a large portion of the village. Feb. 1, 1853, he went into trade at Weare Center with his brother, Hiram Simons. At the end of one year he bought out his partner's interest, and alone successfully continucd the business about twenty. four years, with lumber and building operations added. He also, in connection with his store, engaged extensively in the fruit business, shipping thousands of bar-
Les Simons
327
TOWN-HOUSES.
1779.]
the mission Sabbath-school in Deering and $50 to the Orphans' home in Franklin.
During the whole time the school has existed there has been no vacation. The children have met every Sabbath, no matter what the weather. The largest number present at any one session was one hundred and eleven. More than a thousand different persons have been in the school as teachers, pupils, or members of the bible- class. Very few schools have so good a record.
The society is now in a flourishing condition, has preaching many Sabbaths each year, and its meetings are well attended.
CHAPTER XXXVIII.
TOWN-HOUSES.
THE first town-meeting in Weare was held at the house of Jere- miah Allen, Esq., who lived east of Meadow brook, on the north road from South Weare to what is now Oil Mill village. The second, third and fourth meetings were at the same place, Ebenezer Mudgett, instead of Allen, keeping the inn, and after that they were at Aaron Quimby's inn. Then as North Weare grew popu- lous several were held near Mount William pond, at Hutchins' inn, and July 12, 1779, there was a special meeting in the open air on Center Square. The next year, 1780, one was held in the old "Ana- babtise meeting house " at South Weare, and March 16, 1784, one
rels of apples yearly to our home markets and to Europe. He has always taken a deep interest in agriculture and fruit-growing; and although his operations have been somewhat limited, he has been eminently successful, and owns at the present time one of the finest orchards in the country. He has made pomology a study, and contributed to the papers and agricultural reports many valuable articles upon it. In politics he has always been a Democrat; has held the office of postmaster eight years, been town clerk and collector of taxes, and a candidate for many other offices, but failed of an election because his party was in the minority.
In religion he is a Universalist, and for many years has been an active member of the Weare Center society. He was chosen its clerk in 1859, and now holds the office. He was one of the first to organize, and always has been ready to sustain by his presence and means the Sabbath-school, which has been phenomenally successful during the past twenty years. His house has ever been a home for the preacher and layman.
Mr. Simons married Mary Conant Bagley, of Nashua, Sept. 30, 1854, and to them were born George Fred, Aug. 30, 1856; Louis Clinton, July 11, 1858, died Feb. 23, 1861, and Frank Norman, Dec. 10, 1866. Mrs. Simons died June 30, 1870. Feb. 5, 1880, Mr. Simons married Elsie, daughter of Moses Dearborn, of Weare.
George F. Simons, now a trader and the postmaster at North Weare, married Mary A., daughter of John M. Gove, of Weare, Nov. 20, 1879, and their son, George Clayton, was born May 21, 1883.
Frank N. graduated from Dean academy, Franklin, Mass., June, 1885, and is now a member of Tufts college.
328
HISTORY OF WEARE, NEW HAMPSHIRE.
[1792.
in the Friends' meeting-house at Weare Center. March 13, 1792, the town-meeting was held in the new, south meeting-house .*
But the people began to grow tired of shifting the town-meeting from place to place, and a special meeting was held May 7, 1792, to see if the town will build a town-house, and where it shall be lo- cated. The record says: " voted to the negative about the town
* PERSONS WHO PAID TAXES FROM 1788 TO 1793, INCLUSIVE.
(The Cilleys at that time spelled their name Silley and Selley, and the Paiges both Page and Paige.)
Adams, Richard
Burnham, Aaron Jabez,
Corliss, Widow Cornish, David Widow,
Favor, Zebulon
Felch, Curtis
Atwood, Caleb
Butler, Benjamin Elijah, Samuel,
Cram, Asahiel Ezekiel,
Joseph,
Joshua,
Buxton, James
Jededialı,
Fifield, Edward Col. Nathaniel,
Samuel,
Caldwell, Daniel
Nathan, Thomas,
Flanders, Elijah Thomas,
Samuel,
Robert,
Cross, Theodore
Bacon, Henry
Lieut. Samuel,
Currier, Moses
Samuel,
Samuel, Jr.
Curtis, Isaac Isaac, Jr. Poletiah,
Follansbee, Samuel Thomas,
Bailey, Benjamin
Jacob,
Day, Jolın
Gale, Benjamin
Daniel,
Robert,
Dearborn, Josiah, '92
Samuel,
Ebenezer,
Zebulon,
Dickerson, Thomas Dow, Aaron
Charles,
Jesse,
David,
David,
Daniel,
John,
Dudley,
Elijah, Evan,
Elijah,
Levi,
John,
Jedediah,
Ezra,
Orlando,
Nathan G.
Stephen,
Joseph,
Samuel, Thomas,
Cilley, Benjamin John,
Winthrop,
Moses, Timothy,
Baker, Jolın Samuel,
John, Jr.
Paul,
Giffers, Robert
Barnard, David Edmund,
Clark, Benjamin
Eastman, Ichabod
Goodhue, Joseph
Tristram, 1792
Moses,
Gould, Daniel
Barrett, Joshua
Roger,
Jonathan,
Bassett, John
Clogston, Thomas
Steplien, Thomas,
David, Jr.
Blaisdell, Ralph Samuel, Widow,
Colborn, Chiarles
Obadialı,
Elijah,
Blake, Jesse
Thomas,
Peter, Thomas,
Elisha,
John, Jr.
Colby, Ezekiel Ichabod,
Edmunds, Jona. 1792
John,
Boles, Steplien
Levi,
Einerson, Daniel Daniel, Jr.
Jonathan,
Bowler, Steplien
Samuel,
James,
Nathan,
Breed, Daniel
Collins, Benjamin
Jonathan,
Stephen,
Ebenezer,
Benjamin, Jr.
Marden,
Sweat,
Ebenezer, Jr.
Moses,
Moses,
William,
Stephen,
Richard,
Stephen,
Grant, Isaac
Zepaniah,
Richard, Jr.
Thomas,
Graves, Calvin
Brown, David
Stephen, Tristram,
Emery, Caleb Jesse Salvenus,
John,
Ebenezer,
Colman, Solomon
John, 2d
Elijalı, 2d
Cook, Benjamin Salmon,
Estes, Jonathan
William.
Enoclı,
Cooper, Salmon William,
Evens, Samuel Thomas, Favor, Cutting Joli,
Grcar, Daniel David, Green, David Elisha,
James,
Corliss, David
Jolın, Jr.
Isracl, Jr.
Widow,
Jeremiah, John,
Moses,
Isaiah, Jr.
William,
Timothy,
Reuben,
Jeremialı,
Ayer, Hezekiah John,
Mattliew,
Crocker, Richard,
Flood, Daniel Joseph, Mark,
Bagley, Jesse
William,
Samuel,
Carr, Ezekiel
Ebenezer, Jr.
Chase, Abraham
Dustin, Jonathan
Timothy,
Gile, James
Thomas, Thomas, 2d
William,
Goodale, Robert
Bartlett, John
Samuel,
Gove, Daniel Daniel, 2d David,
Bean, Samuel
Clough, David
Belcher, Woodbridge
Joseph, Nathan, Winthrop,
Ithamar,
David, 2d
Nathan,
Edmond,
Ezekiel,
Winthrop,
Boynton, Moses
Philbrick,
Winthrop,
James, Jr.
Obadiah,
Jolın, Jr.
Elijah,
Eliphalet
Enoch, Jr.
Timothy,
Jabez,
Atkins, John
Caleb, Jr.
Jonathan,
Jonathan,
James,
George, Asa
Clement, Ezra Нспгу, Peter,
Eaton, Humphrey
Johnson,
Brackenbury, Daniel
1792.]
TAX-PAYERS FROM 1788 TO 1793, INCLUSIVE.
329
house." In 1795, the subject came up again, and they voted not to build. The same thing happened again in 1796. The town-house was needed, the party in favor of it persistent, and they brought up the matter again in 1797. This time they were successful.
The town decided to build a town-house on the rangeway, be- tween Daniel Breed's and Lowell Robie's, not far from Duck pond,
Green, Levi Moses,
Kimball, Han'h, Wid. Palmer, Benjamin
Simons, John
Micajah,
Isaac, Joseph, Nathan,
Pearson, Daniel Peaslee, Abner Caleb,
Sleeper, Daniel Stevens, Thomas
Griffin, Richard
King, Nathaniel
Ebenezer,
Stoning, Amos
Hadley, Daniel
Kinson, George
John,
Jonathan,
Jonathan,
Joseph, Samuel,
Hadlock, Amos Jonathan,
Lull, David
Perkins, Joseph
Richard, Samuel,
James, Moses,
Simon,
Tewksbury, Henry Isaac, Jacob,
Hall, Benjamin
Marshall, Asa
Jonathan,
Thompson, Smith
Hanson, Samuel
Benjamin,
Jonathan, Jr.
Terrell, Seth
Hardy, Oliver,
John,
Richard,
Tobie, Samuel B.
Harrod, James
Joseph, Joseph, Jr.
Samuel,
Samuel, Jr.
Tuttle, Jotham Samuel, Simon,
Hobard, Isaac
Pillsbury, Ezra
Twiss, Jolın
Hobbs, Hezekiah
Joseph,
Watson, Jolın
Hodgdon, John
Hogg, James
Massey, Woodbury
Jonathan,
John,
Maxfield, John
Pingree, Francis
Ithamar,
Robert, Jr. William, Hoit, Abner James,
Joseph,
Purington, Chase Elijah, Hezekiah,
Weare, Peter
Hook, Daniel
Morrill, Jabez,
Quimby, Aaron David,
John,
How, Jonathan
Morse, Timothy
Joshua, Moses,
Joseph, Joseph, Jr. Weed, Nathaniel
Huntington, John Huse, Joseph
John,
Ring, Nathaniel
Wells, Isaac
Hutchinson, John
Moses, William,
Rogers, William
Caleb,
Jewett, Mark
Muzzey, Asa John,
Rowell, Elijah Jonathan,
Caleb, 2d
Johnson, Amos Benjamin,
Edmund,
Nichols, Humphrey John, Thomas, Thomas, Jr.
Sanders, Joshua
Andrew P.
Tristram,
Noyes, Joseph
Isaac,
Ephraim,
Osborn, Jonathan Moses, Robert,
Moses,
Worthen, Daniel Samuel Samuel, Jr.
Kelley, Ebenezer
Isaac,
Paige, Eliphalet Enoch, John,
Sawyer, Philip
Worthley, Jonathan Nathan,
Dr. Langley, Moses,
John, 2d
Sevey, Shadrach
Thomas,
Kilburn, Widow
Johnson, Jonathan,
Shaw, Benjamin Follansbee, Thomas,
Thomas, 3d
Ezekiel,
Samuel, Jr.
Silver, Timothy Simons, Ebenezer
Wright, Abel
The following paid more than £1 town and county tax : -
£ S. d.
£ s.
d. f.
" Samuel Philbrick ..
John Gove.
.paid 1 - 9- 2-0
John Hodgdon.
.paid 1-9-11 - 1 66 1-6-1-2
Stephen Dow. 1-6-8-3
Eben Bayley .. 66 1-1-10-1
Obadiah Eaton. 66 1-3- 7-3
William Dustin 66 1-5- 7-2 |Nathaniel Fifield.
1-2-11-2"
Straw, Benjamin Israel,
George, Philip,
Lee, Stephen
Nathaniel,
Nathaniel, Jr.
Tenney, Benjamin
Hazzen, Moses
Hill, David
Martin, Jacob Jonathan, Samuel, William,
Joseph. Joshua,
Melvin, Abraham
Putney, Nathan
Webster, Benjamin Isaiah,
Hovey, Levi
Morrison, Samuel
Howard, James
· Mudgett, Ezra
Jesse,
Reed, Artemus
Job, Samuel,
Moses, William, Wood, Amos, n. t.
Enoch,
Robert,
Sargent, Asa Isaac,
Apaliner, Benjamin, Joseph, Woodbury, Jesse
Jones, Abraham
Oliver, William
Jacob,
Joseph,
Joseph,
Worth, John, 1788
Mary,
Nathan,
Philip, Robert,
Thomas, Jr.
Kimball, Abraham Daniel,
Lemuel,
Col. Samuel,
William,
John, Jr,
Greenleaf, Nathan
Enoch,
John,
Ladd, James
Leveston, Isaac
Philbrick, John
Thomas,
Moses, Solomon,
John, Jr.
Mark,
Nicodemus,
James, Edmond
Robie, John
Whittaker, Asa
330
HISTORY OF WEARE, NEW HAMPSHIRE.
[1798.
and as near the highway as may be convenient. It was to be forty feet long, thirty-four feet wide and twelve feet posted, hip roof ; handsomely underpinned, boarded, clapboarded and shingled ; to have four windows on the front side, two in each end and one on the back side, twenty-four lights of seven-by-nine glass in each win- dow, one front door, double cased, ceiled on the inside walls and plastered overhead, a bar twelve feet by ten, plenty of seats and " window shets on the outside," and the whole to be according to the direction of John Robie, Jabez Morrill and James Caldwell, the committee appointed for the purpose, who were to see it was built according to terms and completed within eighteen months.
The building of the house was set up at auction and was struck off to Ebenezer Peaslee for $368, one-half to be paid in nine months, and the rest when the house is finished. Contractor Peaslee at once went on with the work, and in the spring of 1798, although not completed, the town held its annual meeting in it.
The opponents of the town-house were very ill-natured. They growled about the work, grumbled about paying for it, and those in the south-east part of the town found fault with the location; they thought it was too far off. They wished that a hurricane might blow it in flinders, or the lightning strike it and lay it in ashes.
John Kimball, Richard Clough and Ezekiel Kimball were at work near by it, on a burnt piece, in the spring of 1798. Ezekiel, who was a youth of little wit and poor judgment, had heard the growlers and thought it would be a bright thing for him to carry out their wishes. So, unknown, as he thought, to any one, he set the un- finished house on fire, and " it was burned to ashes."
Ebenezer Peaslee, the contractor, was greatly injured by the fire. As the house was incomplete, he had not got his pay. He claimed that the town, having held its annual meeting in the house, had accepted it so far as it was then done, and were obliged to pay; the town said that according to the vote they were not till the house was finished.
They held a meeting at the place of the fire, July 10th, to see what method the town will take to rebuild, " or to put a house on the same spot in as good a way as the other was before it was burnt that the contractor may go on and finish the contract." But the town would not do anything of this kind, and passed over the article.
Mr. Peaslee then tried to find out who burned his property. He
·aNod leVITTING IN 10 LETJAG
-1
SITE OF OLD TOWN HOUSE.
RESIDENCE OF GIO SIMONS
OLD TOWN HOUSE RESTORED.
331
THE TOWN-HOUSE BURNED.
1799.]
soon concluded that it was young Kimball, and he had Constable Edward Fifield arrest him. The growlers did not like to see the boy go to jail, and two of them, Samuel Colby, joiner, and Ben- jamin Dow, husbandman, with force and arms rescued and set him at liberty. The constable had Colby and Dow arrested for what they did, Joseph Philbrick acting as constable. Kimball at once took to the woods. Peaslee soon found that he was hiding in the great swamp called Moose bog, and was determined to hunt him out. He went to the bog alone, on horseback, and when he came near where he thought Kimball was he cried out, as though he had several resolute men with him, calling each by name, "There he is, catch him !" Kimball began to run, Peaslee saw him and called to one of the supposed men to head him off; Kimball tacked, and Peaslee called to a second resolute fellow to grab him. This was done several times, when Kimball, thinking he was surrounded, came and gave himself up. Peaslee brought him out of the woods, had him put under bonds to appear at court, and then Kimball's father and friends interceded to settle the matter.
At the annual meeting in 1799, Mr. Peaslee's friends tried to have the town choose a committee to settle with himself, but the voters refused and dismissed the article. They soon got a special meeting called, for April 8th, to see if a settlement could be made, but the voters again refused to make one.
Mr. Peaslee now made an agreement with the former committee and selectmen that he should have $100 extra, and they agreed to use their best efforts to get the town to ratify it; then he went to work and built a new house from the foundation. He had it done in the fall, and Nov. 18th a town-meeting was held in it.
But he did not get his pay at once. The whole matter slept through the year 1800. March 9, 1801, the selectmen ventured to pay him, and he gave them his receipt for "$468 in full for building the town house for said Weare."*
The " arson case " against Ezekiel Kimball, Jr., was still pending, and the father wished it adjusted. A special town-meeting was held Nov. 30, 1801, to see if the town will settle with him for the damage received by the town house " being burnt and consumed to ashes." The town chose Jonathan Dow, John Robie, Ezekiel Cram,
* " Weare March 9th 1801 Received of John Robie & James Caldwell Selectmen four Hundred & Sixty Eight doller in full for Building the town house for Said weare. EBENER PEASLEE "
" Attest WM. LITTLE
332
HISTORY OF WEARE, NEW HAMPSHIRE.
[1802.
John Paige and Samuel Eaton a committee to settle with him " for the damage the town sustained by having the Town house burnt to ashes."
At a meeting, Jan. 18, 1802, the committee reported that they had settled for $100 and interest, to be paid in one year. Mr. Kim- ball paid the money, but it grieved him very much. The family felt mortified and chagrined. Soon after, they sold their farm, moved away up country and never came back to Weare.
The town used this house for many years ; in 1801 they paid Daniel Breed $2 for a table for it. In 1803, voted not to paint it ; in 1822, to repair it to the amount of $25, and in 1832 they decided to repair the windows. In 1812, as will be seen, the greatest meet- ing or convention, at that time, ever in the county of Hillsborough, was held in it.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.