The history of Weare, New Hampshire, 1735-1888, Part 39

Author: Little, William, 1833-1893. cn
Publication date: 1888
Publisher: Lowell, Mass., Printed by S. W. Huse & Co.
Number of Pages: 1240

USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > Weare > The history of Weare, New Hampshire, 1735-1888 > Part 39

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" Capt Hadley Destrict Nº 8 Begining at the west Side of the Road, by Widdow Woodburys thence Westerly to the Meeting house then to Joseph Perkins thence down the Mill Road to Daniel Graves thence from the meeting house westerly to James Woodburys, also Humphrey Nichols to include all within that Compass-

" Georges Destrict Nº 9 Beginning at Paiges shoop thence Running Southerly to the west side of Nathan Crams land and also Jesse Bayley Moses Lull & James Lull and Cooper from the school house to New Boston line by Jacob Sargents also to the North side of John Philbrick Land also Jonathan Philbrick, Henry Tuxbury, & the Widow Barnard and Thomas Philbrick to include all within that Compass -

"Bayleys Destrict Nº 10 Beginning at Caleb Whitakers, Southerly to Elijah Goves thence westerly to Deering line, Northerly to Daniel Breeds Beginning at Elijah Browns Southerly by Colbys and Levi Curriers to Capt Crams westerly to Widdow Kinsons to include all within that compass

"Hodgdon Destrict Nº 11 to take in John Twiss Nathan Gove Samuel Philbrick Job Rowell Asa Whitaker Philip Sawyer William Gove and David Gove to include all within that Compass-

"Tobies Destrict Nº 12 To Begin to Eber Breeds, thence westerly to Samuel B. Tobies thence to begin att Eliphalett Paiges thence to Moses Osborn to Begin att the School house and Run westerly by Elijah to Deering line to take Moses Green to In- clude all within that Compass-

"Centre Destrict Nº 13 Beginning att Eber Peaslees thence westerly toward the Meeting from Isaiah Greens westerly by the the Meeting to Micajah Greens Aaron Goves Ashel Carrs thence southerly from Dr Eatons to Lowell Robies from the Centre Square by Esgr Robies to Jesse Blakes to include all within that Compass with the addition of Jonathan Osborn William Evens Winthrop Clough and Josiah Clough

" MOSES HODGDON SAML PURINTON

GEORGE HADLEY CHARLES GEORGE 1 Committe "

JONA WORTHLEY JOHN PEASLEE

ABRAHAM MELVIN JUR ABNER HOIT JUR

ELIPHELET PAIGE JOHN PAIGE

ABRAHAM MORRILL DANIEL BREED

342

HISTORY OF WEARE, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

[1808.

report by a " pool." But a great many were dissatisfied with this division. They had a town-meeting called, to be held May 30th, to see if the town would change some of the districts that the commit- tee had reported, but it was voted not to make any changes. The minority kept at work until, as is often the case, they became the majority, and in time they made thirteen more new districts .* Most of the latter had school-houses, but number fourteen near the Piscataquog had none, and the school was kept in a private house. Many of these districts were afterwards abolished.

An act was passed by the legislature, Dec. 22, 1808, requiring towns to choose three or more inspectors or visitors of schools, since known as the superintending committee. At the annual meeting in 1809 the town chose Dr. Thomas Eaton, Joseph Phil- brick; and Daniel Moore to that office. Their duties were to ex- amine applicants to teach, visit and examine schools, and make a

* No. 14, Baker, near Thorndike mill ; No. 15, Robie, east of Center Square ; No. 16, Mount William pond; No. 17, Oil Mill; No. 18, Raymond; No. 19, Barnard hill; No. 20, Breed, a mile north-west of Weare Center; No. 21, Cilley, between Sugar hill and East Weare; No. 22, Poor farm; No. 23, Clinton Grove; No. 24, Dearborn tavern; No. 25, Otter brook; No. 26, Slab city.

t JOSEPH PHILBRICK was the first historian of Weare. To his care, foresight and prudence, we are indebted for the account of the first three settlers of the town. Vandal hands destroyed the records of the Robietown proprietors, but Mr. Philbrick, years before, had carefully saved the papers of Meshech Weare, the first proprietors' clerk, and from them we get a fair account of the running the lines, the laying out of the town lots, the locating of Center Square, the building of roads and bridges, the clearing of land and the erecting of cabins. His church records are full of interest- ing historical facts, and his own account-book is interspersed with incidents that occurred as the years went by.

His parents were Samuel and Phebe (Sanborn) Philbrick, of Seabrook, who came to Weare Nov. 12, 1770. Joseph, their fifth child, was born in our town July 24, 1772, and passed his youth at home, attending the short district schools, and filling the long vacations with farm work, and the few recreations enjoyed by farmers' boys. He was a bright scholar, had a retentive memory and more than ordinary ability. At the age of nineteen, he commenced teaching in Jaffrey, and afterwards taught in Deering and many other places. He was a member of our first board of school committee, and was officially connected with the schools of Weare for many years, manifesting a deep interest in them.

He early took an active part in military affairs, and in 1801 was appointed sergeant- major of the ninth regiment militia, was soon promoted to adjutant, and would have rapidly risen to the highest place had not a severe illness incapacitated him for military duty.

He held the office of justice of the peace and quorum thirty-seven years; wrote many decds and wills, tried causes, was often a referee, and solemnized marriages.

In politics he was a Federalist, and that party being in a minority in Wearc, he did not hold many town offices; yet, he was town clerk in 1812, selectman in 1822, and by reason of his fitness and integrity was auditor of town accounts for a long time. When any investigation was to be had, any measure for the public good to be carried forward, or any thing that required talent and ability to perform, Joseph Philbrick was always chosen by his townsmen to do it, without regard. to his politics.

Mr. Philbrick settled a great many estates in the probate court, and was often agent for the transaction of town and other business in the several courts of the county.

He was commissioned associate-justice of the court of sessions Dec. 21, 1820, and held the office four years.

HIe early learned surveying by himself, soon became a proficient in that art, and was often employed in locating and measuring land and laying out roads.

He was a member of the Masonic fraternity, belonging first to Benevolent Lodge, No. 7, Amherst; then to Bible Lodge, No. 27, Goffstown; and last to Golden Rule Lodge, No. 46, Weare, of which he was installed master, Nov. 19, 1828.

He was an active member of the Freewill Baptist church in Weare, and was its

343

COURSE OF STUDY.

1808.]

report to the town .* They first visited District No. 8, South Weare, July 26th, Miss Hannah Gray, mistress. This school had eighteen scholars, and twelve were present. They continued their labors until they had visited all the schools in town. The teachers of these summer schools were all mistresses. In early winter they again visited all the schools, which were now taught by masters. Joseph Philbrick kept full minutes and made a report.t

The inspectors found the scholars still learning the pleasant doc- trines of the catechism in the old New England Primer, reading in the spelling-book, the Preceptor, the Testament, the Understanding Reader and Dwight's Geography. A few recited in geography and arithmetic. Some years later they had for reading books Scott's Lessons, the English Reader, the Compendium to be read on the Sabbath and the Introduction to the English Reader. Pike's and Daboll's arithmetics were used, Murray's Grammar, and Blair's Rhet- oric were studied by advanced scholars, Pope's Essay, Paradise Lost, Thomson's Seasons, and Young's Night Thoughts, were parsing books. These works as school-books are all out of date now. They had some excellent spellers in those days, and some not so good.

clerk for twelve years. He was also clerk of the Weare Quarterly Meetings, which were held in various places, for fifteen years.

Mr. Philbrick married, Jan. 24, 1797, Hannah Gove, daughter of Elijah and Sarah (Mills) Gove, and to them were born six children.

He was a man of that rare New England type which abounds in all that goes to make excellence of character. His more than ordinary ability and education, com- bined with sound judgment, sterling integrity and decision, rendered him a wise counselor, and enabled him to fill many places of trust with true fidelity. Whenever he believed a measure to be right and for the best good of the public, he would stand for it firmly, without considering whether it was popular or not, preferring the conscious- ness of right doing to public applause.

He died of consumption Nov. 26, 1830, aged fifty-eight years, and was buried with Masonic honors.

* In 1810, Joseph Philbrick, Rev. Sebastian Streeter and Samuel Eaton were chosen inspectors of schools. In 1822 there were twenty-four school districts in town and twenty-four inspectors of schools.

t RECORD KEPT BY JOSEPH PHILBRICK, SCHOOL INSPECTOR.

" Decr 12th 1810 Visited District No. 10 A. Bailey Mas Nº Scho

" One class read in Preceptor.

9 1 Do Do in Abbreviations. 6

1 Do Do in 4 Syllables. . 5

1 Do Do in understanding reader. 6

1 Do Do in Geography [Dwight]. 10

1 Do Do in 1st tables of 2 Syl 2

" Total No present .. 38 " one [class] reading in ca ce Jesse Philbrick.

" 5 in Study of Arithmetic " Same day Visited District Nº 9 Bradbury Bailey Master Nº Scol. 1

one Do in Testament, Jno Twiss. 1

one Class Do in 8th table of Derivatives. 4

one Do Do in Preceptor. 4 one Do Do in Dwights Geography. 7

one Do

Do in Morse's

" Total No present ..

" one in Study of Arithmetic Jona Bailey."

344

HISTORY OF WEARE, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

[1817.

Joseph Chase was one of the latter. The teacher put out "popu- lar " to him. Chase tried to spell it ; p -- o- - p, says he, and got stuck ; p -- o -- p, he spelled again, and two or three times over, then with a great effort he finished it thus p- - o- - p pop c -- y cy, popcy; and he was so glad he had spelt it, he laughed loud enough to be heard half a mile. The whole school roared too, and ever after, he went by the name of Popcy Chase.

One of the duties of the teachers of those days was to make a re- port* of the names, and whole number of pupils attending his school. Some teachers also reported the studies pursued ; this was the germ from which has evolved the complicated school register. Many of these early reports were beautifully executed, especially those of Masters Daniel Bailey and Amos W. Bailey.

Jacob Follansbee said he went to one of these schools in district number six. The house stood on the river road in a hollow about one mile north of Oil Mill. Levi Emerson taught it and had one hundred and ten scholars. The master had no assistant and used to get round to hear Jacob read the alphabet once a day. Now less than a dozen scholars go to school in that district.

* One of the first of these reports was made of District No. 8, South Weare. It is as follows : -

" A CATALOGUE OF SCHOLARS. NO 33.

" George Tuxbury Simon P. Colbey Esther Corlis

Mehitable Grant

Joseph Perkins Junr, Joshua Atwood John Corlis

Lydia Hadley

James Bailey Wm Gray

Sarah Green Ebenezer Mudget

Simeon Nichols Achsah Nichols

Hannah Gray

Julia Green Jesse Mudget

Ruth Nichols

Lucinda Kelly

David Grant

Jesse Martin

Melinda Nichols Jesse Nichols

Mehitable Kelly

Isaac Grant

Clarissa Kelly Jolin Favor

" Weare Jan 30th 1811 "

The following was made for the same district by the same master in 1817 :-

" CATALOGUE OF NAMES OF SCHOLARS IN DISTRICT NO. 8 WEARE, FEB. 31, 1817 " James Colby A. W. R. S. S. J. Tenney W. R. S. David H. Grant A. W. R. S. Mary Kelly W. A. Gr. Geo. & C.

Isaac Grant W. R. S. Wm Gray W. A. Gr. Geo. & C.

Lucy G. Colbey W. A. Gr. Betsey Emerson W.

John Corlis W. A. Gr. Geo. & C.

Melinda Nichols W.

Apphia Hubbard W. Gr.

Julia Green W. Gr.

Eliza F. Burrell W. Gr.

Lydia Hadley W.

Thompson Atwood W. A.

Ruth Brown R. S.

Jesse Martin W. A. Simeon D. Burrell W. A. Gr. Hiram Nichols W.

Mary Tenney R.

John Smith R. S. Ira Whitaker R. S.

Phidelia Bailey R. S.

Perkins Martin W.

Clarissa Bailey R. S.

Daniel Martin Jr: R. S.

Loira Eastman R. S.

Moses Mudget 3rd W.

Mary Eastman R. S.

John Langdon Hadley R. S.

Mary Martin W.

Gorham P. Hinrick W.

Mary Richardson R. S.

DANIEL BAILEY Master "

" No. 40

John Hadley

Jonathan Grant

Hiram Nichols

Sophi Kelly Judith Green

Perkins Martin

Jesse Nichols W. A. Gr. Geo. & C. Alcinus Young W. A. Gr. Geo. & C. John Favor W. A. Samuel Eaton Jr. W. A.

Elmina Tenney R. S.

Judith Green W. Adaline Burrell R.

345

SUPPORT OF THE SCHOOLS.

1827.]

The town raised a generous supply of money for the support of these schools. The law of 1808 required that $70 should be raised for each dollar of the town's proportion of the state-tax, and a new law in 1827 called for $90 for each dollar. The school fund which arose from the sale of the school lots also furnished a generous income. Its amount was $1940, and in 1819 the town took $60 from the interest and added to it, so that it was the round sum of $2000. The literary fund was also a great help ; the state gave the money. After the decision of the celebrated Dartmouth college case, the people felt aggrieved and determined to establish a university of their own for teaching literature and the higher branches of science. A large sum was raised for this purpose by a tax of one-half of one per cent levied annually on the capital stock of all banks. But the idea of a state university was given up, and an act was passed in 1828 to divide the money among the towns in proportion to their state-tax. Weare at once voted to keep her share as a literary fund for the benefit of her schools, and they have now $3021 from which they derive an annual six per cent income. The tax on banks has also been kept up, and the town yearly gets a considerable sum from that source, from the state, for the support of schools.

A committee was chosen each year to take care of these funds, and a second committee to settle with the first. It was once voted that if either committee charge any pay it shall be taken out of the interest and not out of the fund. Then it was made the duty of the selectmen to settle with the funds committee. After the war of the Rebellion an effort was made to have the school and literary funds loaned to the town to pay war debts, provided it could be done legally and not be lost, but it was unsuccessful. Hon. Daniel Paige had the handling of them for a great many years, and they were safe with him. He died while holding them ; his successor was not able to get them all, the town thought they were mingled with the Paige estate, "that the heirs were now enjoying them," and a great lawsuit was begun to recover them. It continued for several years, and then, in 1886, the town voted to drop it, each side paying its own costs.

Prudential committees were first chosen by the districts in 1828. Previous to this time school agents, or collectors, had been elected at the annual town-meeting the same as highway surveyors, and as many as twenty-five were elected some years. The legislature made this change by an act passed July 6, 1827. Their duties were to

346

HISTORY OF WEARE, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

[1833.

select and contract with teachers, provide board and fuel, make repairs, call district meetings and notify the superintending school committee when the school began. These committees were residents of their respective districts, and they generally acted economically and for its best interests. They usually, to lengthen out their school, bargained with the teacher to board around, the citizens providing the food and lodging gratuitously. In this way the master had to entertain the parents as well as teach the children. They would set up the furnishing of the school fire-wood at auction and strike it off to the lowest bidder. Abner Hoit found it one winter in No. 6 on the river road. He did it at a cheap rate, hauled poor wood, brown ash, and the boys got provoked with him. School was nearly done, had but three days more to keep, when he drew a cord of it and said that must last till the term closed. The large boys cut and burned it in one day; it made it so hot that the pitch fried out of the pine knots in the ceiling on the back side of the room. Hoit had to haul another load.

In No. 8 lived Moses Mudgett, and he found it easier to get his supply of fuel nights from the school pile, than to go into the woods and chop it. Some of the large boys who had to cut the wood thought they would fix him ; so they bored holes in a few sticks and loaded them with powder. A little grandson who stood by cautioned the boys not to load too heavy, as it might kill grandpa. Moses got some of the loaded sticks and put them on his fire under a boiling pot; soon they exploded, and it is said the pot shot up through the great chimney flue into the clear sky and landed in the field over behind the barn. Mudgett never again meddled with the school- house wood.

This same law also provided that the selectmen should annually, in the month of March, appoint a superintending school committee, consisting of not less than three nor more than five persons. They were to examine teachers to see if they were qualified, to inspect all schools at least twice a year, to look after the discipline and pro- fiency and see that all children attended. They had power to dis- miss teachers, to turn out scholars, to determine what text-books should be used and were to make a report at the annual town- meeting.

They and their duties were not always popular. The town in 1833 instructed them not to visit the schools the ensuing year. Similar votes were passed in 1835, 1837 and 1838. The town voted in 1847

347

CHANGING THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS.

1845.]

that they shall visit all schools twice a year " for one dollar a district "; in 1850 that they should publish their annual report, the town paying for it, and in 1861, Moses A. Cartland having offered the resolution, that they should not change any text-book oftener than once in five years. This last has become the law of the state.

The town also at times pointed out the way in which they should perform their duties. In 1849 they were ordered to appoint days to examine teachers, and not to give any certificates to applicants unless they came on those days. A reasonable excuse would serve as an exception to this rule. In 1852 they were instructed not to visit the schools at all, but the town soon found this was a mistake, and they ordered the committee " to visit them far enough to make a correct report to the Secretary of State." Without such a report they might have been troubled to get their portion of the literary fund.

As the years went by, the population changed somewhat ; some farms had been deserted, new ones taken up, and villages had grown. School-houses were far out of their proper centers by these changes, and the whole arrangement of districts was very unsatisfactory. In 1845, at the annual meeting, the selectmen were directed to re-district the town. They attended to their duty, and at the meeting in 1846 they made a report which was accepted. They established twenty- six districts. In 1850 the town voted again that the selectmen might alter the boundaries of some of the school districts. This time, either those officers failed to act, or what they did was unsatisfactory, and the town in 1852 chose Robert Peaslee, David C. Chase and Josiah G. Dearborn a committee to report on new districts and their bounds. They reported at a special meeting held Nov. 2d ; the town accepted the report, adopted it, so far as it related to district No. 6, and then re-committed it. At the annual meeting in 1853 the report was at first rejected, then recalled and again re-committed. April 9th, they again rejected it, then tried to re-district the town themselves without success ; adjourned to May 7th, when they changed some of the bounds ; to June 2d, when they once more " tinkered away " on them and " voted that the selectmen divide the money according to to-day's bounds "; to June 25th, when they worked at the bounds again, and to July 13th, when " they worked at them some more."

The subject then rested till 1855, when they had as many more meetings to fix the school districts. In 1858 they tried it again and made some slight changes, and in 1866, after the war was over, the

348

HISTORY OF WEARE, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

[1852.

town united Districts 7 and 8. They then chose Josiah H. Nichols, Josiah D. Chase* and Albe Morrill to re-district the town, to fix the numbers and define their bounds. They were to take the advice of competent counsel, employ a surveyor if necessary, who, if employed, was to make a plan and lodge it with the town clerk. They did the work, made a report Sept. 8th, and the town accepted and adopted it. They made sixteen districts, which were almost identical with those reported by the committee in 1852. A few were dissatisfied, and tried the next year to break up the arrange- ment. They had three town-meetings, but were unsuccessful. In 1868 they slightly changed the bounds of one district. In 1874 some of the friends of education tried to abolish all the school districts, agreeably to an act of the legislature for that purpose, and establish one town district, but the majority refused to do it, and the district system went on as before.

Between 1840 and 1850, there was a greatly increased interest in schools throughout the state. Teachers' institutes were established, which awoke many indifferent teachers to new life and energy. A law was passed that towns might appropriate a small per cent of the school money for their support. Weare sometimes appropriated it

* NATHAN G. CHASE was the son of John Chases, of Kensington, who was son of Elihu4, who was son of John3, of Hampton, who was son of John2, who was son of Aquila Chase, who came from Chesham, England, to Newbury, Mass., in 1635. Aquila and his brother Thomas were among the first settlers of Hampton.

Mr. Chase was born Nov. 21, 1752, and in 1775 bought a farm in the north-western part of Weare. It consisted of the whole of lot 67, range 5, and lot 22, range 6. He cleared his first aeres on the sunset slope of "The Hill," and built his first dwelling of the logs he had felled. He made a path to it through the "trackless wood," and thither brought his wife on horseback. In the farm-house that was soon erected, he spent the remainder of his life, surrounded by all the comfortable build- ings and equipments which a thrifty farmer required.

Mr. Chase had a poetical vein, with a love of Nature, which had much to do with his selecting such a truly picturesque site for his home. The view was not only ex- tensive, but beautiful. He could feast his eyes on nearly the whole circle of the horizon, from Mount Washington, Lafayette, Moosilauke and Kearsarge, on the north, by Sunapee and Lovell at the west, to Monadnock and Joe English in the south; the picture being filled in with all the hills and mountains between, and the smiling valley of the Piscataquog at his feet.

Mr. Chase had a fine physique and great strength. He was an excellent farmer; . and there is a tradition that he lowered the whole surface of his farm a foot by eart- ing off the stones and rolling them down the western hillside. He was erect and dignified in his bearing, had keen ability, undaunted courage and fixed purpose. When he told people " the way 't was," it was instinctively understood it must be so.

He married (1) Hannah Hoag, of Newton, who died in 1806, and (2) Alice Newhall Butman. By his first wife he had three children. His second wife died without issue. Mr. Chase purchased his home at the age of twenty-three, and after living upon it seventy-two years, died Sept. 27, 1847, aged ninety-five.

JOHN CHASE, his son, inherited the paternal aeres. In addition to farming he was much occupied with town affairs; held several offices, and was often appointed executor of estates and guardian for orphans. He had the sobriquet of " Deacon John," which must have been by brevet, as the Society of Friends, to which he be- longed, were never known to recognize the " three orders of the ministry." He mar- ried Betsey Dow, daughter of Josiah Dow, and to them were born six children.

JOSIAH DOW CHASE, fourth child of John, still lives on the old farm. He married Mary C. Breed. They had three daughters, only one of whom lived to maturity : Caroline, who married Henry D. Tiffany, of New York city.

HOME OF N.G.CHASE

PAST AND PRESENT. 1887.

LOOKING TOWARD MT MONADNOCK. .

PRESENT NORTH VIEW.

NIG CHASE

ORIGINAL SE

HOMESTEAD of N. G.CHASE. DRAWN FROM A SKETCH FROM MEMORY MADE BY Mrs. TIT FANY WHEN A CHILD.

VIEW TOWARDS MT LOVELL .

PRESENT SOUTH VIEW.

J.H. S.

FT. Stuart, Dostos

Je Dearborn.

349

JOSIAH G. DEARBORN.

1847.]

and sometimes did not. In 1847 it was voted, at the annual meeting, not to give five per cent of the school money for the teachers' institutes in this county, but liberal men were mortified at this; they had a special meeting called July 8th, and made the appropriation. The next year three and one-half per cent was appropriated for teachers' institutes. In 1849 they refused to give any thing, but in 1850 they gave three per cent. A teachers' institute was held in Weare in 1857. John H. Goodale was county school commissioner, and he had an able corps of instructors. Forty-one ladies and fifty- six gentlemen attended it; the committee on resolutions, Josiah G. Dearborn* chairman, reported an interesting series, which were adopted, and " much benefit was derived from the practical remarks and suggestions of Moses A. Cartland, well-known as one of the best teachers in New England.".

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The history of Weare, New Hampshire, 1735-1888, Part 39

Author: Little, William, 1833-1893. cn Publication date: 1888 Publisher: Lowell, Mass., Printed by S. W. Huse & Co. Number of Pages: 1240

Author: Little, William, 1833-1893. cn
Publication date: 1888
Publisher: Lowell, Mass., Printed by S. W. Huse & Co.
Number of Pages: 1240