USA > New Hampshire > Rockingham County > Windham > The history of Windham in New Hampshire (Rockingham country). 1719-1883. A Scotch settlement (commonly called Scotch-Irish), embracing nearly one third of the ancient settlement and historic township of Londonderry, N.H > Part 2
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THIS HISTORY.
This History is the narrative of a people Scotch in blood, Scotch in their habits and customs, and Presbyterian in their re- ligion, who, to have a "faith's pure shrine," and
" To make a happy fireside clime For weans and wife,"
came to these then inhospitable and savage shores, and planted themselves as pioneers in an unbroken wilderness. They were hard-headed, level-headed, long-headed, uncompromising, and unyielding Presbyterians. This settlement was blessed by the
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HISTORY OF WINDHAM IN NEW HAMPSHIRE.
tears and sanctified by the prayers of its little band of pioneers. Founded in weakness, as a part of the Londonderrry settlement, it grew stronger by sacrifice and struggles. After a few years of comparative isolation, new communities sprang up around it, and it soon felt the thrill of the world's great life, bore its shares in its labors, and contributed its fair proportion to its progress and elevation. I look back upon those hardy settlers as conscientious men and women, who lived well and performed a noble part in life; and so they, friends, neighbors, kinsmen of that day, and the generations of their successors, find a quiet resting-place on the hill and on the plain. Theirs were hard lives here, but they find -
" After the burden, the blissful meed ; After the furrow, the waking seed ; After the flight, the downy nest ; Over the shadowy river-rest."
ARRANGEMENT AND PLAN OF THIS WORK.
The events narrated here might have been arranged in chrono- logical order, and written in the form of a continuous history. I have written it topically rather than in the form of annals, and have given to each topic a separate chapter. The field of our past history has been gleaned, and all accessible information re- lating to each subject has been gathered together, arranged in chronological order, and given in a continuous narrative. This method makes each chapter easy for reference, sufficiently com- prehensive, and in a degree independent of every other chapter. This method will also explain some repetition of statements in regard to persons and events in the different chapters. The ar- rangement of genealogies I have explained sufficiently on page 299, at the commencement of that part of the work devoted to Family History.
WAR HISTORY.
The military history of the town during the French and In- dian and the Revolutionary wars is the result of great labor and research. Weeks of persistent toil were spent in collecting the in- formation. Little could be found in the Town records, but all of value they contain has been abstracted. The war records of the State for those periods, now on file in the Adjutant-General's and Secretary of State's offices at Concord, were carefully ex- amined. The mnster-rolls of several regiments in the French and Indian and Revolutionary wars, on which were the names of many
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INTRODUCTION.
New Hampshire men, and the towns from which they came, were closely inspected, and some facts of interest collected from them. These rolls are on file in the office of the Secretary of State, at Boston, Mass. The Provincial, State, and Town papers, compiled by Nathaniel Bouton, D. D., were laid under contribution and made to yield their treasures. This official information has been sup- plemented by known facts and trustworthy tradition. I have endeavored to portray the heroism of the fathers, in those troublous times, in its true light, that the influence of their sturdy patriotism, and love of the right, may not be lost upon succeeding generations. With all this care and labor the sketch is fragmentary, and much of that history which we would now highly prize has passed into oblivion. But some pearls have been gathered from the past, and the precious jewels are ours forever. The names of our soldiers in the 1812-15 war are believed to be accurately given. The names of our soldiers and the legislation of the town during the Great Rebellion of 1861-65 are also given at length. Knowing that the future will be as hungry for details of the .late struggle as we are for those of the earlier wars, I anticipated this desire, and have inserted all that was possible, or that my space would admit. Its value will increase with the passing years.
FAMILY HISTORY.
No town history is complete which fails to include the history of the families of the town. When this is omitted, it is like "the play of Hamlet with Hamlet left out." Into this portion of the work I have put greater labor, time, and expense than in the history proper. It is as complete as an extensive research could make it. In almost every instance, the genealogies have been worked up by myself. It has been my aim to give a history and genealogy of our earliest settlers and their descendants to the present time, whether residing in Windham or elsewhere; and this plan will explain the appearance here of the history and portraits of many who are not natives of this town. To do this in all cases has been impossible, as many of them removed from town and "left no sign"; and so far as this history is concerned, beyond the records herein given, over them rests the shadow of silence and oblivion. In some instances I have traced families for more than a century after their removal from town. When it was practicable, I have followed fami- lies from the emigrating ancestor to the latest descendant.
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HISTORY OF WINDHAM IN NEW HAMPSHIRE.
(See Introduction to History of Families, page 298.) It was not essential that a sketch of every family that had ever lived in town should be incorporated in the work. Some resided here for a short time only, and then moved away. They did not add materially to our history, and of them there is no available information. But I have endeavored to give the history of all families of whom I could obtain information, and who have resided in town for a considerable length of time. Those fam- ilies whose history is most complete, are those of whom the most facts have been furnished me. Where the modesty of some has prevented a compliance with my numerous requests for informa- tion of themselves and their families, the information given may not be so full as they themselves would now desire. Should the record of any such family be imperfect, or not so full as desired, the fault will not rest on me, as I made all proper efforts to have it full and correct. Where little is given, much must not be re- quired. If it were right, it would have been a gratification to me to have given a fuller notice of many still living; but -
" No true crown of honor can be given Until we place it on a funeral bier."
FIRST EFFORT FOR A TOWN HISTORY.
Many years ago it was strongly in the mind of the Rev. Loren Thayer to prepare a History of Windham. He was well fitted for the task, and on some accounts it is deeply to be regretted that he did not carry the project to completion. Information then available has been irrecoverably lost. He collected a very few isolated facts which were reduced to paper, and he had much in his mind of which there are no memoranda. But as he received no encouragement from the town, and did not feel like assuming the great financial burden unaided, the task was reluctantly aban- doned. After the resignation of his pastoral charge, he still cherished the fond hope of carrying forward the work, and an article was inserted in the Town Warrant to see if the town would aid in the matter, but the article was dismissed without discussion ; and so, with deep regret, he abandoned this last pet object of his life. The subject of a town history has for a number of years been upon my mind; but, as literary work was not the business of my life, I hesitated about undertaking it. Still, taking " a long look ahead," for what might be in the indefinite future, I secured the few scraps of history which
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INTRODUCTION.
Mr. Thayer had reduced to paper, and so the matter was out- wardly at rest, though in my own mind it would not "down at my bidding."
ORIGIN OF THE HISTORY OF WINDHAM.
A few years ago, the Hon. James Dinsmoor, of Sterling, Ill., a native of Windham, and one who has honored the town of his nativity, collected information, intending to publish a History of the Dinsmoor Family. Unforeseen events prevented the consum- mation of his plan; but -
" It's nae for naught the glede whistles."
So in 1879, when I had nearly completed the "History of the Morison, or Morrison, Family," Mr. Dinsmoor suggested that I should write a History of Windham, which should include that of his family. He and Hon. William B. Dinsmore, of New York City, very generously offered to aid me pecuniarily in the expense of preparation. By this offer, and also by offers of assistance from George W. Armstrong, Esq., of Boston, and from some of the citizens of Windham, and those who had formerly been residents here, I decided, in the spring of 1880, to undertake the task (though I had previously collected some memoranda), and to it since that time I have given persistent and unremitting labor. The work of more than three years is before the reader.
TOO LATE.
A history should have been written fifty years ago. Then all of our early history could have been gathered together. Many were then living who knew personally, and had conversed with, the early settlers, and to whom the history of the emigrants, the places in the Old World from which they came, the causes which drove them here were familiar, compelling them to sunder the ties of home and kindred, to embark and brave the perils of the deep, to plant themselves in a remote wilderness, and endure the hard, sacrificing life of pioneers. All this information was as familiar as household words ; but it was not reduced to writing, and most of it is lost. Even thirty years ago, the aged persons then living knew much of this, and. could have given at least their own fam- ily histories; but they passed away, and no record was made. We are now three, and in some families four, generations from the emigrating ancestors. The first, second, and even the third and fourth generations, save here and there a representative who
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HISTORY OF WINDHAM IN NEW HAMPSHIRE.
remains, have passed away. Tradition has almost entirely died out, and more of history has been lost than can now be gathered together.
It is needless to speak of all the motives which prompted me to undertake this unremunerative task, and carry it forward to completion. Prominent among them was my love for literary work, my sincere regard and veneration for the sturdy virtues of the first settlers and their descendants, and a strong desire that their history might be preserved for the benefit of ourselves and future generations. I also shared in the fear which others, who were interested, expressed, that it should now be written, else it might never be done. Besides this, Windham is my native town, and with its history, the history of my family has been intimately connected. Here the larger part of my life has been spent. It is endeared to me by many tender ties, sacred associations, and hallowed memories. Its hills and valleys, its rocks and sky-blue waters, its beauties of landscape, of field and forest, I gaze upon with admiring eyes.
For the years of toil spent in the preparation and publication of this History of Windham, I did not expect, and I can never receive, any adequate pecuniary compensation. Many hours which others have spent in recreation by day, or needful rest at night, I have devoted to this work. But to gather up the frag- ments of the past, is the duty of the present ; and to aid in record- ing the devoted, patriotic lives of our Scotch ancestors, so that coming generations may know the cost, and appreciate the worth, of the institutions founded by them, has afforded me the keenest of pleasures. All known sources of information have been made tributary to this work. Letters, reliable traditions, and the County and Probate records, have all furnished aid. Besides the records of New Hampshire at Concord, and of Massachusetts at Boston, the New Hampshire Historical, the Massachusetts Historical, and the New England Historic Genealogical Socie- ties' Libraries, have been examined, and have given a great amount of information. Family and town histories have yielded up their treasures ; family Bibles and the memories of the aged have contributed their quotas to the work. The town records of Salem, Pelham, and Hudson have been examined. The Lon- donderry records have aided me much; while the records of Windham have been under my eye continually for constant refer- ence ; have been read again and again, and all items of interest ex-
INTRODUCTION.
tracted. Every record of a birth in the town records, up to 1882, appears in the genealogies. Every tombstone in every cemetery in town has been examined, and the record of birth or death copied. The old cemetery in East Derry has been examined many times, as have also the cemeteries of other towns, and the fruits of these researches appear in the genealogies. Almost every old cellar has been discovered, and its history given. What are stated as facts, are the result of thorough and patient investigation.
This work has necessitated a large correspondence, for the de- scendants .of our first settlers are widely scattered. It has also required considerable travel to consult libraries and records, and to interview individuals. I have labored under disadvantages greater than those of many town historians. Never before was a history of the town written, or even a sketch prepared, nor a diary kept by any citizen, as in many towns, which would form a basis for a history, throw light upon the early past, or bridge the years between the present and the first generation in town. The town records are extremely meagre, and record nothing but the barest facts. In some instances they have been culpably kept. Every detail has been omitted, whereas details should have been inserted. Town records properly kept would of themselves fur- nish a pretty good political history of the town, and a substantial basis on which to rest the fabric of our annals. In one instance the annual warrant failed to be recorded. Knowing well that the future will wish for details of the present and the past, I have anticipated its wants, and have, in all possible cases, given exact dates of events, -day, month, and year; and in my narration of facts, have been equally careful to include the minute particulars which many would have omitted. Inaccuracies in dates, and some misconception of facts, will be found, for all human work is imperfect. With the greatest care in collecting my information, to have it reliable, in spite of painstaking in transcribing it and in printing it, errors will appear, and such as have been observed are noted on page 835. Other errors will be found which will only be noted by the families in whose records they appear. (See Introduction to History of Families, pp. 298 and 299.)
In the warrant for the annual March meeting, 1882, I caused two articles to be inserted : first, to see if the town would embellish its History with views of landscapes and its public buildings. The article was not dismissed withont discussion ; but after I had ex- plained fully the plan and scope of the work, the town promptly,
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IHISTORY OF WINDHAM IN NEW HAMPSHIRE.
generously, and wisely voted a sum not exceeding $200 for this purpose, which was expended. A committee, consisting of Horace Berry, Abel Dow, and Samuel Campbell, were chosen to confer with me in relation to the embellishments, and to carry the vote into effect. On the second article, the town voted a sum not exceeding $400, to aid in the publication of the work: Of the appropriation to aid in the publication of the book, only $300 have been called for; and a reduction has been made in the price of the History, in the ratio which the number of copies printed bore to $300, in accordance with my under- standing with the committee of the town. This action of the town was truly commendable, and entitles it to the gratitude of those now living, and also to those who shall succeed us.
EMBELLISHMENTS.
Many of the portraits are steel engravings by J. A. J. Wilcox and F. T. Stewart, of Boston, artists of high repute. The other portraits are chiefly albertypes, made by Forbes Company, Boston. The cost of these has been borne by the parties themselves or their friends. The views of landscapes in town, and of the pub- lic buildings, were inserted as previously stated, at the town's expense. The engraving of W. H. Anderson's residence, near West Windham, yet in Londonderry, was inserted at his expense. Hon. Wm. B. Dinsmore, of New York City, who is in the habit of doing beneficent acts, generously furnished the portraits of Gov. Samuel Dinsmoor, and of his son, Gov. Samuel Dinsmoor, Jr., of Miss Anne Belle Jameson, of James Dinsmoor of Ken- tucky, and of Col. Silas Dinsmoor, as well as that of himself, for this work. The Map of Windham was inserted at my expense. There were other faces and views I carnestly sought, but could not obtain. The cost of the illustrations of this book exceeds $2,400. To this work I have given an elaborate Table of Con- tents and copious Indices (without which no work is complete), with which most subjects or persons mentioned can be readily found. As is well known, copies are frequently wanted in sheets, or with uncut edges; but where nothing to the contrary is said, books are always furnished in the ordinary binding. When books are ordered in sheets, but with uncut edges, it is for the purpose of making a change, by inserting additional pictures, or to put on such binding as may suit the taste, convenience, or judgment of the subscriber. This change is always done at pri-
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INTRODUCTION.
vate expense. Every copy of the History of Windham, N. H., contains more than it was advertised to contain in the Prospectus. Each subscriber is entitled to all the printed matter and every engraving included in the " List of Illustrations," and no more. (See List of Illustrations.) The books furnished by me are uniform in every respect. If at any time any book appears with additional engravings, or with a different binding from the ordinary one, it is where the copy was ordered in sheets, or with uncut edges, or the book rebound, or where the changes or ad- ditions have been made at private expense.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS.
To Nathaniel Holmes Morison, L.L. D., Provost of the Peabody Institute, of Baltimore, Md., I am indebted for the system of running titles and index adopted in this book, and for valuable aid and suggestions.
To Isaac W. Hammond, Esq., the genial Deputy Secretary of State, Concord, N. H., I am under obligations for the copy of some State papers.
For early information of the town, and for some of the most in- teresting incidents mentioned, I am greatly indebted to the remark- able memory of my much-esteemed friend, the late Dea. William Park, of South Boston, Mass. His interest in the work was sur- passed by none. His correspondence and aid only ceased at death.
George W. Weston, Esq., Register of Deeds of Rockingham County, has placed me under obligations by gratuitously search- ing the records and furnishing information.
To the officers of the State Departments of New Hampshire and Massachusetts, and of the New England Historic Genea- logical Society at Boston, I am indebted for many courtesies and kindly aid.
To Hon. James Dinsmoor, of Sterling, Ill., I am indebted for the history of the Dinsmoor family ; to Mr. W. S. Harris, of Windham, for the history of the Harris family; to Gen. George Thom, of Portland, Me., for much valuable information relating to the Thom family; to Mrs. Margaret (Emerson) Richardson, of Windham, for much of the information of the Emerson family, and other facts.
The retentive memory and ready pen of Dea. Jonathan Coch- ran, of Melrose, Mass., have furnished many interesting facts of our early history.
To my venerable friend, Benjamin Chase, Esq., of Auburn,
.
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HISTORY OF WINDHAM IN NEW HAMPSHIRE.
N. H., I am under obligations for many facts in his chapter on Industrial History, in his "History of Chester," and for cuts to illustrate the same.
To William B. Merrill, Esq., and Joshua Merrill, Esq., of Bos- ton, Mass., I render thanks for their liberal subscription for copies of the work.
The Hon. James Dinsmoor, of Sterling, Ill., and IIon. William B. Dinsmore, President of the Adams Express Company, New York City, have placed me, the citizens of Windham, and all who are, or ever shall be, interested in this History, under great obliga- tions, by their generous pecuniary assistance in the labor of prep- aration of this book, which should include the history of the Dinsmoor family. It is a pleasure, in which there is no alloy, to thus record their names, and to make this acknowledgment of their public spirit.
George W. Armstrong, Esq., of Boston, Mass., has remembered the home of his fathers, and has sought to preserve its honorable record, by contributing generously in aid of this work, for which I express my obligations.
From Robert C. Mack, Esq., the veteran antiquary, of Lon- donderry, valuable information and generous aid have been received. I gratefully acknowledge the valuable assistance ren- dered in proof-reading, by my friend, Theoph. G. Wadman, Esq., of Lowell, Mass .; and to Messrs. Huse, Goodwin & Co., of the Vox Press, I tender thanks for the excellent printing of this book.
To the citizens of Windham who have aided me, I render thanks for their public spirit and interest in the work.
And finally, to all who have aided me by pecuniary assistance in this unremunerative task, or by words of encouragement, or by correspondence and information, or who have embellished the pages of this History with portraits of themselves or others, I render my grateful acknowledgments.
This History is now submitted to the people of the town, to the descendants of the first settlers, to the general public, and to pos- terity. That this work may be of interest to the present, and of value to the future, is my earnest desire; and that the lessons taught by the lives of our worthy ancestors may never fade from the memories of their descendants, is my hope and will be my reward.
LEONARD A. MORRISON.
WINDHAM, N. H., May 11, 1883.
PRELIMINARY CHAPTER.
IN writing and in reading a history of the people in this Scotch settle- ment, the mind insensibly goes back to Scotland, the Fatherland. Before the mental vision passes, in panoramie review, its romantic mountains with their wilds and fastnesses, its glens and historic places, where the ancestors of this people lived and suffered ; where they contended for the right, as it was given them to see the right, often against superior force, sometimes with indifferent success, but still where the blood of martyrs became the seed of the Church, and where the cause at times crushed be- neath arbitrary power, flourished again with newness of life and undying vigor. The incidents of Scottish history, such as
" Scots wha ha' wi' Wallace bled, Scots whom Bruce has often led,"
With a multitude of others, come thronging the memory like the inrush- ing waters of a mighty flood.
The Fatherland is tilled with glorious memories, which appeal to one's inner nature, touch his heart, and thrill his soul. The great binding power of association links each descendant of those who planted this settlement with the history of Scotland. He can claim kinship with her noblest and best ; with her warriors, statesmen, and orators : with her poets, whose songs have touched responsive chords in the heart of man, wher- ever man possesses a soul capable of appreciating the beautiful and true : songs, too, not for one clime or one age, but for all climes and all ages, and which have found a home in the universal heart of humanity.
The main-land of Scotland, situated between 54° 38' and 58° 40' 30" north latitude, and between 1º 46' and 6º 8' 30" of west longitude, is a cold and wintry land, small in extent of territory, its surface covered with morasses, lakes, lofty mountains, and fertile and productive glens. Its area is about 26,400 square miles, or nearly three times as large as the State of New Hampshire, and much of this surface is covered with water. It has a sea-coast of 3,000 miles; the whole northern and western coast is indented with arms of the sea, and from Murray Firth on the north, to Loch Linnhe on the southwest coast, the country is nearly cut in two by the water. On the north are the Orkney Islands, on the west are the wind-swept Hebrides, while upon the southerly border is the North Chan- nel, which, with its narrow width of from ten to twenty miles, alone separates Scotland from Ireland. This land, so small in extent of terri- tory, has been peopled with a brave and hardy race, and its history is as grand, as romantic, as heroic, as any recorded.
The earliest authentic account we have comes from Roman historians, and their records show that the Scotch were early noted for their bravery, adroitness in war, fearlessness in danger, and fortitude in adversity. They would gather into bands, sweep down from their mountain fastnesses upon the surrounding country, overcoming all obstacles, gather large booty, and retire with incredible swiftness, thus precluding successful pursuit. They were a haughty race, yet beneath their lawlessness were strong in their regard for race and kindred, kindness for the distressed, and practical sympathy for the needy, combined with a steady and unquench- able love of country. England was nominally under Roman rule from
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